About food in Japan

Sweets in Okinawa

Finally at the end of Okinawa series blog posts lasting for 2months, like as the last dish of course diner, we will introduce some SWEETS found in Okinawa.

 

Traditional Sweets

As introduced in our previous post reporting Makishi Kosetsu Ichiba (public food market), Matsubaraya Seika (松原屋製菓) provides traditional sweets of Okinawa.

It is outside of Kosetsu Ichiba on the main street of shopping archade. You will find many mounts of sweets piled at the shop. Most of them are uniquely available in Okinawa but some, for example almond cake, are a bit similar to ones available in Europe.

   

Traditional sweets by Matsubaraya Seika

So many different and unfamilar sweets are available there.

It costs around Yen 100-200 per piece.

It's a fun to choose some of them from the wide selection,

even if we do not know well what is inside and what kind of taste it is actually.

 

Popular local brand x local ingredient

Formost Blue Seal ice cream company was founded in Okinawa in 1948. Originally it came from U.S.A. and served in American base camp. Now the brand name of Blue Seal ice cream has been known even in Tokyo as one of the item to try in Okinawa. 

We had been almost given up to try it on the trip in winter actually, because many others were also on the list to try. But at the end we found the sign of Blue Seal at Naha ariport just before onboarding.

 

Soft cream purple potato flavor

Purple potato (紫イモ) is also one of the local specialty in Okinawa.

The strong purple color has big impact visually and is often used for local sweets for souvenir.

The taste of the potato is not so strong as the color has.

So simply we can enjoy the cool texture.

 

 

 

National brand x local specialty

Last two are the ones we found either at a supermarket or convenience store.

Japanese major sweets comapny provides local products in Okinawa, which are not available in Tokyo, even though we wish to have them.

 

 

Chinsuko Ice cream

"Chinsuko" cookies is one of the most popular sweets. 

It is Okinawa version "British Short bread" if we explain it.

Crunched Chinsuko is in vanilla ice cream, as it is for Cookie & Cream.

     

Easily can imagine, it is GOOD!!

 

 

Another local version product by Meiji is

Shiikwaasaa (citrus depressa) jelly

  

It has fresh rich citrus flavor.  

Amazing to be able to get it at very reasonable price

a bit over Yen 100 for 3 packs.

 

 

Well, this is really the end of Okinawa series.

We wish you have enjoyed and could get some ideas what we should try on the southern island and how it is different from Tokyo and other mainland cities.

Hopefully we will be able to start next series Hokkaido, the northern land from May 2014.

It must be a good chance to find a big contrast between south and north of Japan!!

 

 

 

 

Mizuho Shuzo, Awamori distillery, Naha - 瑞穂酒造, Okinawa

Our Okinawase series is now close to the end and today we introduce an Awamori distillery in Naha, which is accessible easily by public transportation.

First we will review what is Awamori(泡盛). It is local distilled alcohol drink uniquely exists In Okinawa. Awamori has been produced for over 600 years in the south islands since it was introduced from Thailand as the result of trading business between Rykyu Kingdom(current Okinawa) and South East Asian countries. The way to produce Awamori has not been changed since that time. Imported Thai rice is fermented with black east and distilled.

As Japanese distilled alcohol, Shochu (焼酎) from Kyushu region may be better known. Shochu, which is produced from Japanese rice, wheat or potato, is the one evolved from Awamori, after it was introduced to the region. 

Well, among 48 Awamori producers in Okinawa, the distillery we visited is called “Mizuho Shuzou”(瑞穂酒造). It is found in 1848 with over 160 years history and is the oldest distillery among 3 in Shuri (首里) Castel area. Mizuho shuzou welcomes tourists to visit its storage room located just a few minutes from a monorail station. (advance reservation required) It is also 2 stops from Shuri castel area.

Mizuho shuzou is just a few minutes walk

from Shiritsu Byoinmae （市立病院前） monorail station.

The sign says “Kusu (vintage Awamori)” is a treasure of Okinawa.

 

When we arrived in front of the distillery Tenryu-kura

(if we translate the name of storage “Dragon in the sky”),

it smelled awamori alcohol.

 

A staff welcomed us and explained about Awamori and Mizuho distillery, then introduced Tenryu storage.

 

 

Thousands of earthen pots occupies the storage on the ground floor, while 640,000L Awamori stays in several tanks on underground where the temperature can be kept consistent level even in the night and day, in winter and summer.

 

  

It means we stand out over Awamori. We could see that is true as the staff opened a cover on the floor and showed us inside of the tank.

Wow, it’s a pool of Awamor!!

Wanna swim here?!! Or drink directly?!

No, no we could not be too exciting and had to be calm down.

 

After all displayed and the underground tank were introduced,

we could have tasting opportunity.

 

 

Many bottles and small cups are on the table and we were told

“Help yourself as much as you want”.

 

 

Wow again,

exciting moment to try many different Awamori and other alcoholby Mizuho Shuzou.

 

What we should try is especially the ones called "Kuusu"(古酒), Awamori which is 3 years or older. Some have been kept long years, over 10 years (like this photo). It contains higher degree of alcohol and rich in taste and floavor, like vintage wine. 

We have to be careful not to drink too much and have to keep our brain enough clear and available to function so that we can go back to our hotel by monorail.

 Another good news abour Awamori is its advantage to good health. Awamori contains a certain type of enzyme that can disolve bloog clot much more than red wine and other alcohol. It's a good reason to take the local alcohol everyday little by little!!

 

 

Visiting distillery is free and available only on weekday. Advance reservation is required.

 

Spot name : Mizuho Shuzo (瑞穂酒造)

Address: 4-5-16 Shuri Sueyoshi-cho, Naha city, Okinawa

Official homepage (in Japanese): http://www.mizuhoshuzo.co.jp