Matcha Japanese Green Tea

As an avid Japanese tea fan and also the founder of a matcha green tea company, Zen Green Tea, I always have people asking me what matcha is and why it holds such a special place in Japanese culture. There is a bit of a matcha craze at the moment- big multinational companies are using matcha to produce everything from KitKats, Starbucks frappes to French macaron. America features a growing matcha market with Dr Oz and Oprah all shouting its health benefits from the rooftop.

So how is matcha actually different from standard green tea? Well first off the production of the two teas is vastly different. The green tea plants chosen to be used for matcha (typically the healthiest plants in a harvest) are covered with shade cloths for weeks at the end of the harvest. This makes the plants work harder for sunlight so it turbo charges their levels of chlorophyll and nutrients. Only the finest leaves on the top of the plants are hand picked, oven baked and rapidly stone ground into an ultra fine, jade green powder. Normal green tea uses the leaves at the middle- bottom of the tea plants which are then steamed, rolled and dried. This process destroys a lot of the amino acids and ECGC catechins well known for cancer prevention and anti-aging.

A small amount of matcha powder (2 grams) can then be added to hot water and finally whisked with a bamboo whisk forming a stunning green tea. With matcha you are consuming the whole tea leaf dissolved in water. As a result matcha is a powerhouse of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

So what are some of the health benefits of matcha? Scientific studies highlight that it helps people lose weight through increasing the amount of energy your body burns, it also suppresses appetite and helps block the absorption of fat in your large intestine so you excrete the fat Vs storing it. Matcha has also been linked to inhibiting a percentage of the neural cell death in those suffering Alzheimer’s Disease. Many studies are linking it to inhibiting the growth of tumours and preventing cancer. You can find the links to the scientific studies on my website. If you are interested in joining the matcha lifestyle just make sure you buy premium Japanese matcha that is bright green in colour. This indicates freshness while Japan also employs incredibly clean and sustainable farming processes.

Article contributed by Erin Young who is the founder of Zen Green Matcha Tea - a premium matcha green tea powder brand in Australia. To find out more information you can visit her website Zen Green Matcha Tea.

McDonald’s Japan Summer Menu

I love the seasonal menu items they come out with here in Japan and McDonald’s is no exception. Recently they came out with some new menu items just for summer.

These include such goodies as the Pork Tatsuta, Chicken McNuggets with Wasabi Sauce and Fruit Curry Sauce, Shoyu Butter Shaka Shaka Fries, and Banana Oreo McFlurry.

The Pork Tatsuta

The Pork Tatsuta was released on May 31 and is based on the popular Chicken Tatsuta. The Pork Tatsuta contains a grilled pork patty, onion ginger sauce, shredded cabbage and a slightly spicy sauce all contained within a soft fluffy bun. The burger is really easy to eat and we liked the flavour combination of pork and ginger, which reminded us of the popular Japanese dish shogayaki. The soft bun is a nice touch as well and sets this burger apart from the regular burgers on the menu.

The Pork Tatsuta in the Box

Opening up the Pork Tatsuta

About to eat the Pork Tatsuta

Chicken McNuggets with Wasabi Sauce

Chicken McNuggets with Wasabi Sauce is now one of my all-time favourites. Why didn’t they think of this flavour before? The combination of wasabi and sweet Japanese mayonnaise is a classic and I could easily dip all of my future food into this awesome combination. The wasabi sauce has a sweet initial taste with the wasabi hitting you later as an after-taste. It wasn’t as hot as we would have liked and is very mild, so don’t be afraid to give it a try. Definitely my favourite of all the summer menu items. A must try if you are in Japan this summer.

Chicken McNuggets with Wasabi Sauce

You can see the creamy Wasabi and Japanese Mayonnaise Sauce

Shoyu Butter Shaka Shaka Fries

Shoyu Butter Shaka Shaka Fries are a limited edition, where your fries come with a paper bag and a special seasoning. You simply put the fries in the bag, sprinkle in the seasoning and shake vigorously. The special seasoning for this one is shoyu butter (soy sauce and butter). The seasoning is quite mild and not too strong, so it adds a nice gentle kick to the flavour of the French fries.

The Bag and Special Seasoning for the Shaka Shaka Fries

The seasoned fries ready to be eaten by one hungry JA

Banana Oreo McFlurry

Banana Oreo McFlurry makes a summer comeback and is always very popular. It is easy to see why as banana and chocolate is such a great combination.

Banana Oreo McFlurry

Chicken McNuggets with Fruit Curry Sauce

A new sauce is available for Chicken McNuggets in Japan called Fruit Curry Sauce. It is a curry sauce that is very fruity and is like a mix of a curry sauce with chutney. I would definitely recommend this one!

Fruit Curry Sauce

A mix of curry sauce with fruit chutney

McDonald’s Japan Website http://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/

Have you tried any of these new summer items from McDonald’s Japan? What would you like to try? Please leave your comments below.

Kappa Zushi

Kappa Zushi or かっぱ寿司 in Japanese is a family chain of kaiten sushi restaurants in Japan. The chain is well known for offering delicious sushi at reasonable prices. The sushi passes your table via a conveyor belt and you can just take the sushi that you want to eat. You can also order your choice of sushi by using the touch screen computer at your table. The order is then delivered to your table via a plastic shinkansen (bullet train) that runs on a separate track. It is fun to do and watch the train arrive with your sushi.

The kaiten (conveyor belt) at Kappa Zushi

The Kappa Zushi Shinkansen (Bullet Train) with our order

The interior is very plain and simple with wood a common feature. You can either sit at a bench type table or at a counter.

Table at Kappa Zushi

Most of the sushi cost 105 yen for a plate of two. There is a large selection of sushi ranging from nigirizushi to makizushi. There is also salad, soup, fresh fruit, pack juice, cakes and desserts along with side menu items like karaage (fried chicken) and French fries.

Maguro Nigirizushi (tuna)

Salmon & Avocado Nigirizushi

Ebi Tempura Nigirizushi (prawn tempura)

Tuna Makizushi

Gyuushigure gunkan Makizushi (Japanese beef)

There are many condiments which can be found at your table and these include things like soy sauce, wasabi, plastic chopsticks, green tea powder, pickled ginger and small dishes for the soy sauce.

The green tea at Kappa Zushi is also very good and you can make your own for free at your table.

Japanese Green Tea

The final bill is based on the number and type of plates you have eaten. The plates come in different colours and shapes ranging in price from 100 yen to 500 yen. The bill is calculated by counting these plates. When you are done you just select the bill on the touch screen computer and one of the shop staff will come and work out your bill for you. The final price is recorded on a paper tab which you take to the register to pay as you leave. It is a very simple, quick and effective system.

Kappa Zushi can be very busy so if you arrive at peak times (12 – 2pm or 5:30 – 7:30pm) you might need to wait to be seated at a table.

If you are looking for a good affordable sushi restaurant in Japan then give Kappa Zushi a try.