Tomatoes in Japan

Tomatoes in Japan

Originating in Mesoamerica about 7,000 years ago, tomatoes arrived in Japan early in the Edo period (1603-1868) having traveled the globe and being domesticated along the way.  The first tomato plants in Japan were considered an ornamental — they were not...
Project Shaved Ice

Project Shaved Ice

PROJECT Shaved Ice is about making Japanese-style kaki-gōri confections. Strawberry Sauce Many people top shaved ice with fresh fruit or commercially prepared syrups. But for those who would like to make their own, here is a simple-to-make STRAWBERRY sauce. Note the...
Shaved Ice

Shaved Ice

KAKI-GŌRI: Japan's contribution to Icy Confections Long before refrigeration was invented, people around the world went to great lengths to keep food chilled. The world’s earliest written record of such efforts is an Iranian inscription dating back to 1700 BC that...
PROJECT New Tea

PROJECT New Tea

PROJECT New Tea is about brewing and enjoying NEW TEA (shin cha 新茶)… Please try YOUR hand at preparing new tea (available online and in specialty shops around the world). And when you do, share your kitchen activity with us: post to KCCC. Please include photos...
Japanese TEA POTS

Japanese TEA POTS

The Japanese use a wide variety of tools and vessels to prepare and serve food and beverage. This post is devoted to TEA POTS called KYŪSU 急須. They are typically small, used to brew just a few portions of tea (each about 100-120ml/scant 4 fluid ounces) at one time....