Japanese Green Tea Dessert

If coming to Japan, we must experienced Japanese Green Tea Miracle. One of the miracle is in Japanese Sweets and Tea.


One shop we went into were "Kyo Hayashiya" at Tokyo Midtown. This shop is very famous on matcha (green tea) dessert (actually anything made by matcha from desserts, roll cake, biscuit, to udon). It was established in Kyoto since 1753 -- of course, famous came with long queue in front of the shop.

The most famous Matcha-producing regions are Uji in Kyoto (tea from this region is called "Ujicha"). Matcha is generally expensive compared to other forms of tea, although its price depends on its quality


What we ordered were :
1) Japanese Shaved Iced Dessert (Kakigori) serve with green tea ice cream, mochi, and sweet bean paste.
2) Macha : Macha is a fine, powdered green tea -- Because matcha can be bitter, it is traditionally served with small sweet.
More information of Kyo-Hayashiya : http://www.kyo-hayashiya.com/

During the time we went to Kyoto, we tried to eat at Kyo-Hayashiya -- but with the long queue, we decided not to queue in and go to the next shop (along the way to Gion Area). We ordered :
a) Green Tea Parfait ice-cream (green tea ice-cream with layers of green tea sponge cake topped with green tea whipped cream. b) Another set is Mitarashi dango with macha. Dango is a Japanese dumpling made from mochiko (rice flour), often served with matcha green tea. Mitarashi is a syrup made from shouyu (soy sauce), sugar, and starch.


How to make Matcha :
Place a small amount of matcha into the bowl, traditionally using a bamboo scoop called a chashaku, then add a modicum of hot (not boiling) water. Then mix by whisking consistency, using a bamboo whisk known as a chasen (until no lumps left in the liquid and no ground tea remain on the sides of the bowl.

Japan : Food Shop Sign

I'm not sure whether anyone who has been in Japan has noticed this ....

Food (or even drink) are pointed out to explained what it is -- very clearly to customer.

These two pictures I took them from Old Town Kyoto & New City like Tokyo. The left picture (even it's a traditional nabe shop in old town), it was pointed out by arrows what were contained in nabe pot. However, the right picture (it's the modern cafe -- a kind like fast food), there were also arrows point out to explain each cup of coffee.

I like Japan !!!

As I always says "They are very thoughtful for their consumer" ...

Kyoto : Yuzu Nabe @ Pontocho Quarter

Pontocho Quarter is a district in Kyoto, known for home to many geisha houses and traditional tea houses. It is 600 metre long and 50 metre wide -- locate near Kamo River (or Kamogawa).

Actually, when I was there, I realized that this is where the crime scene happened in "Detective Conan Crossroad in ancient capital" movie. The movie was talking about one tea houses where Mouri Gogoro and other 3 local characters drunk with geisha. It was mentioned about the plan where murderer planned to put knife across the Kamogawa River ...

Now back to food, I found one shop in Pontocho where they sell Nabe (Japanese Pot Dishes). At this shop, you can called "Donabe" since the pot was traditionally made of clay which can keep warm for a while after being taken off the fire. The soup was based on broth and yuzu. Key selling point of this shop is YUZU -- is one of Japanese citrus fruit with a sour taste & good unique smell. The way to order is to pick what type of meat you need (i.e., chicken, pork, fish, etc) -- no beef since they said it's not go well with their broth. The way to order is that One person for one order, but you can cook/share the pot. For a good combination, I suggest to order vegetable to eat with.

When they served us, they brough fresh pork & fish together in one plate with 2 pieces of lemon. Shop owner said that we could squeeze lemon onto our soup or wherever you liked ...

This shop is very outstanding since there is a big visual of YUZU at the front (even the shop owner and waiter/ess also wear black t-shirt with a visual of yuzu at the back).

What I like most is that this shop open earlier at 17:00 !!!

I have to say " This is my favourite shop -- I like it most among all I ate during my Japan trip in February 2008"

For more information : http://www.kiwa-group.co.jp/

Kyoto : Mochi Udon at Nichiki Market

This is one of my food hunting programme -- followed the route of Maki's Magic Restaurant. Here is Mochi Shop called "Mochitsukiya" in Nichiki Market where they normally sell different kinds of mochi. Mochi is Japanese Rice Cakemade of glutinous rice pounded into paste and molded into shape -- it is very sticky.

For this shop, of course, their hero product is Mochi. Therefore, during lunch time (only 11:00 - 14:00), they sell UDON -- Japanese Wheat Noodle cooked in fish broth and seasoned with soysauce.

In the Left picture is Special Udon Set 780Yen which was Udon with grill rice cake, tempura flake, Neghi, and seaweed. It was served with Grilled Onigiri (Japanese Rice Formed into triangle shape) -- in this case, they mixed only with salt. Just only salt, I was able to taste the real flavour of rice ... WOW ...

While the Right picture is Chikara udon or "Power udon" 580 Yen which was Udon with pieces of rice cake (plain & red pepper), minced green onion, and some fish paste. A little hot on Mochi but very tasty.

The shop itself has area of selling mochi at the front with a show of how to make mochi. Inside, is the kitchen follwed by tables with chairs and area that you can sit on the tatami floor.

Shop information : http://www.nishiki-mochitsukiya.com/
Tel: 075-223-1717

More information on Kyoto Nishiki Market, click :

http://www.bento.com/phgal-kyotomarket.html
http://www.bento.com/phgal-kyotomarket2.html