As is our custom, drinkingjapan.org was at JFEX 2025, which was held at Tokyo Big Sight from July 9-July 11. We encountered a number of noteworthy beverages and will report on some of them from time to time. The following is our evaluation of two brews from an Aichi-based brewery. Tea Ceremony, Mizuno Toshikata Last … Continue reading JFEX Gems: Morita Kinshachi Brewery’s Matcha and Miso Brews
Have you seen the videos comparing US and foreign versions of various food products? Common products that are often compared are cereals and sodas, where the US versions often have synthetic petroleum-based dyes, while foreign versions do not. The US versions are vibrantly colored, while the foreign versions have more subdued hues. Due to health … Continue reading Kizakura “Kyoto Mugiaji Matcha”
This is the final entry in our “Ostrich Series.” As promised, we will end on a musical note. In the 1960s there were a whole slew of dance songs, ranging from Little Eva’s “The Loco-Motion” to The Orions’ “The Wah-Watusi” to the eternally irritating “Do the Freddie” by Freddie and the Dreamers. Believe me, you … Continue reading “The Ostrich”: The Dance
We chose three red wines and paired them with Yoshinoya’s ostrich under two conditions. The three wines are pictured below and a limited sensory evaluation will be provided for each. The wines are all reasonably priced. The ostrich was tasted first without the accompanying sauce and then with it, following the rule “from light to … Continue reading Ostrich and Wine Pairing, Part 2
I had first heard about Mùa Craft Saké through a tweet by the sake expert Chiba Marie in November of last year. Mùa Craft Saké is a new sake brewpub in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam. I was rather skeptical - sake made from local Vietnamese rice? Why are they flavoring it with dragon … Continue reading Mùa Craft Saké
We came across a large number of interesting beverages at this year’s FOODEX. Here is another one. The chrysanthemum is a very important flower in Japan: it is the Imperial family’s crest, makes its appearance in works of art, is featured as a motif on some kimono, is employed as a natural insecticide, and functions … Continue reading Five Vision Brewery’s Hoshibatake’s Chrysanthemum (つま菊) Ale
Rooster and Indian Strawberries, Sugakudo This week we feature yet another product on display at FOODEX JAPAN 2025. No, Shiraso is not handing out strawberries at their brewery, but they are located in Tochigi Prefecture, and they do have a nihon-shu with more then a tenuous connection to the fruit. As is usually the case … Continue reading Shiraso Brewery & Distillery’s “Strawberry” Offering: Tochiakane RED (とちあかね いちご酵母仕込みRED)
Drinking Japan 