Wednesday, January 25, 2006

while roaming the aisles of the supermarket

My breakfast this morning was Tofu Salad (Satoshi's was Pasta Carbonara). My family in Hawaii has this for dinner sometimes and we sometimes make it to take to pot-luck parties. Usually we put canned salmon, onions, tomatoes and lots of watercress, bean sprouts and a cut up block of firm tofu (soybean curd). I made it a bit simply with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, carrots and tofu. The dressing I used was the same dressing I used when I made my seared ahi-avocado salad.

Do you like to roam up and down the aisles of the supermarket? I do!! A nice thing about the upscale supermarkets in Japan is that they bring in products from all over the world. I really enjoy seeing new items at the supermarket.

I was first introduced to this brand of tea, BOH (I think it's pronounced "bow") about 2 years ago when I received it as part of a Christmas gift from my host-sister, Tomoko. The tea that she gave me was a black tea called Cameron Highlands. This brand of tea is grown in Malaysia. As I roamed the aisles of the supermarket today, I came across a new line of this brand called, Seri Songket Collection. Because the Cameron Highlands was good, I decided to get one from this new collection. I chose the Lemon and Mandarin flavored tea (because it sounded really good and mainly because it was the flavor that was ON SALE).

I had it with lunch today, and it was really good! A very light lemon and mandarin orange flavor--it doesn't over power the tea. On the box it says to drink it black(or as the Japanese say "straight") and hot or over ice with a slice of fruit.

Another tea brand that caught my eye while walking the aisles of the supermarket was Janat. I've seen this tea being sold at our favorite cafe, so I was happy to find that it was also ON SALE at the supermarket today.

According to what I could read on the internet in Japanese, before the French Revolution, there was a commerce trader named Dores--his grandson , Janat Dores started Janat Tea in 1872. On the tin, it says Paris, but I couldn't seem to find a website in English or in French (not that I can read French). So, it may be that this is product can only be found in Japan...hmm...the tin is really cute though, it has 2 cats on it.

The tea I got is called Moon Valley (no. 1030), it is a Darjeeling tea with a hint of muscat (grape). I tasted this tea during my afternoon tea and it was really good, a hint of sweetness, but the main flavor of Darjeeling wasn't lost.

With tea this afternoon I had a "yukiichigo" which means "yuki" (snow), "ichigo" (strawberry). My aunty came upon this dessert while roaming around the train station shopping arcade near her hotel when she visited us 5 years ago. The one we had back then was really light and fluffy. There was a piece of sponge cake at the bottom, a strawberry in the center and whipped cream around it (sorry the picture is a bit dark). The whole thing was wrapped in a very thin mochi (rice cake).

I found this version, again while roaming the aisles of the supermarket...I bought it and envisioned the same light and fluffiness of the first "yukiichigo" I had, only to be disappointed because the cream wasn't whipped--it was actually a bit on the heavy side (definitely PMS-ing...)

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I too love to roam up and down the supermarket aisles! Nice purchases you have got there :)

K and S said...

Hi Joey,

Thanks for stopping by.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who enjoys roaming the aisles of the supermarket!

Kat & Satoshi

bourgogne said...

that yukiichigo looks like it SHOULD be good! i'll look around the french stores to see if janat's around. it doesn't sound french but that doesn't mean it isn't. wouldn't it be funny if that japanese website made up the story about monsieur janat dores? heehee (i am majorly into conspiracy theories)

K and S said...

Hi Bourgogne,

I wouldn't be surprised if it was made up. The address on the label of the tin said: Janat Dores Teas
L'atria 1 Avenue Berthollet 74000 Annecy-France
I typed in "L'atria 1 Avenue Berthollet 74000 Annecy-France" and got what I think ('cuz I can't read French) is an advertising agency or a real estate company...

If you find out anything, would appreciate whatever info you can get!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Kat & Satoshi

Anonymous said...

Hi Kat!

I do love wandering up and down the aisles of the supermarket ... especially when I'm in a new supermarket. You just never know what you'll find.

I love the part about the different teas. I'm really becoming more of a tea drinker of late and am always interested to learn about new types!

K and S said...

Hi Ivonne,

I'll add you to our aisle roaming club then. :)

As for becoming a tea drinker, I've only gotten into it recently too (I'm finding out there is a lot to learn about the different kinds of tea). I used to be and still am a coffee drinker (Lion Coffee, that is).

Thanks for popping in!

Kat & Satoshi

Journal Actif said...

I didn't find a thing about Janat Tea... Odd...
That strawberry sweet sounds so intriguing. I agree it must be delicious (and so delicate) with whipped cream.
What a nice supermarket trip you had!

K and S said...

Hi Zoubida,

Bourgogne's comment was the same. He's going to check some markets in France.

Glad you are done with your taxes!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Kat & Satoshi

Anonymous said...

Kat I was reading the previous post about ichigo daifuku and it brought to mind the strawberry mochi made at Two Ladies Kitchen in Hilo on the Big Island! Wow!!! {me miss home so much, it is almost 2 years that I haven't been back}

Regarding this post, I am always roaming the supermarket aisles. My husband needs to put a leash on me if he wants nearby, but in the event that he loses me, he just needs to hang around the food area a bit. I'll be the one standing in front of a showcase with drool salivating from my mouth... ;-) Tofu salad is a winner! Wish I could find fresh kind over here.

K and S said...

Hi Rowena,

Thanks for stopping by!

OMGosh, Two Ladies Kitchen..they have awesome types of mochi. My favorite is a chocolate with peanut butter one. I miss Hilo too, my Gma used to live there but now is on Oahu. Another fav of mine is Big Island Candies (dark chocolate dipped shortbread)..sigh...

I try not to go to the supermarket with my husband because he'll stand with this bored look on his face (telepathecally saying, "hurry up will ya?") and make me hurry up with my shopping, so no roaming when he's with me.

If you can get your hands on soy milk and the bitters to curd the milk, you can make your own!! :)

Take care!

Anonymous said...

Hello! :)

I LOVE window shopping in supermarkets (which quickly turns into real shopping, if you know what I mean......)!

However, whenever I've been to Japan I've not had any luck finding a proper supermarket besides the food basements in department stores like Takashimaya, Mitsukoshi etc.

Where do you go for supermarket shopping? Next time I go to Japan I want to go to a proper one!

K and S said...

Hi P-T,
In my neighborhood, I'm fortunate to have several markets to choose from: Nissho, Daiei, Ikari, Daimaru Peacock, Co-op.

I hope the next time you come to Japan you'll be able to shop at a market instead of the department store.

Take care.
Kat

Anonymous said...

Hi Kat

Thanks for your reply :) Perhaps next time I'm about to go to Japan I could ask you for a few directions to a proper market. That would be so brilliant!

I can already imagine browsing the aisles and looking at all the beautiful daikons hahaha.

K and S said...

Sure, P-T, I'll be glad to help if I can.

Take care.
Kat

Anonymous said...

I buy janat tea at kaldi farm Yokohama
this is best price quality brand in the supermarket
I wish they bring it to the US,
try the Earl grey it's too much better than twining!

K and S said...

will remember next time I see it Anon :)

Take care.
Kat