I'm not sure if this is the gastronomic trend in Japan for 2025, but through a couple of Japanese programs including yesterday's final episode of "Asaichi"（あさイチ）before going on summer hiatus, I found out that the drink known as a tea soda may be getting lots of love around the country. Through the other variety show, the tea soda (which is what the name says) originated in one area of Japan and has remained a local favourite but suddenly it's making its way around the country.
Now, at first impression, the thought of mixing cold Earl Grey tea and soda water doesn't exactly thrill me but then again, I have to remind myself, I once had the same reluctance with Calpis soda since I thoroughly enjoyed the original Calpis syrup mixed with plain cold water. I'm OK with it now although I will still prefer the unfizzy version. But once the heat over there comes back down to something more humane, those who are heading to Japan on vacation might want to see if a café is serving the stuff. I'd be game to try it out.
Seeing tea soda last night did have me thinking about another Author's Picks, and this time, it's revolving around tunes that have something to do with the basic drinks of coffee, tea and milk. It took a bit of doing, but I was able to track down six. Wherever you are, enjoy a cup or glass!🥛
(1991) Miki Imai -- Tea for Two
(1998) UA -- Milk Tea（ミルクティー）
(1990) Yasuyuki Okamura -- Kahlua Milk （カルアミルク）
(1989) Misato Watanabe -- Tsumetai Milk（冷たいミルク）
(1992) Yoko Oginome -- Coffee Rumba （コーヒー・ルンバ）
(1982) Hi-Way -- Black Coffee（ブラック・コーヒー）
Since it's currently all the rage in the world right now(especially in America), are you a fan of Matcha?
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've enjoyed matcha through the original drink and its use in ice cream and cake. How about yourself? Do you consider yourself a fan of coffee or tea?
DeleteI had Matcha once and it was pretty good but I don't have the craze for it(now the Summer Berry lemonade drink from Starbucks, that's another story...). I love both coffee and tea but I tend to drink coffee more.
DeleteI'm pretty much mostly on coffee now, though I still like my Orange Pekoe. Coffee connoisseurs will want to tear my hide but I do have an affinity for Caramel Frappuccino on the rare times that I go to Starbucks.
DeleteI consider myself to be more of a tea person than a coffee person. But, living in Japan of all places when I go some where new I often get offered coffee! A few weeks back I got to see Yoko Oginome perform コーヒー・ルンバ on UTA-CON. I enjoyed Miki Imai's very swanky and jazzy 'Tea for Two'!
ReplyDeleteHello, Brian. Yeah, I've been pretty much a coffee person since university although I still enjoyed drinking Milk Tea especially during the summers in Japan. As a kid, I was drinking Orange Pekoe for breakfast.
DeleteImai had a predilection for bossa nova. "Sol y Hombra" was another wonderful example that she sang on her "retour" album in 1990.
Okay, then I think I need to listen to "Sol y Hombra", cause I really like Imai's style!
DeleteFor me, her early period (1986-1991) is my favourite by far. Not that any of her songs since then have been horrible but I think her early tunes have spoken to me the most.
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