I hope you had a nice weekend.
Ready for a fresh new week, or not yet (?)
It does take some time for engine to start for me…
Anyway, we have a few exciting things to share.
This time coffee, tea, wine and katana. Read on!
And if you are in San Diego, CA or Newark, OH this weekend, please scroll down to the end for a special announcement.
First -
The Espresso Bomb
I wanted to share this one in the summer, but you know me, I tend to always wait until the last minute.
It’s a cool summer drink for sure! (and autumn too!!)
Please check out the video. It is so cool, and if you do this in front of people, they will be impressed, I think.
You salt the rim of a shot glass, drop the espresso into cold tonic, and it fizzes right up.
The full recipe is in the article, with the roast we use and where the drink came from.
Second -
Aki Autumn Blend Is Off to a Good Start
Our Aki autumn blend is off to a good start. So many of you have ordered it already. Thank you so much!
If you haven’t tried it yet, this is the one for the season. Deep French roast, low acidity, and the sweetness comes out in the aftertaste. Best hot. It also makes a really nice café au lait.
It is only here for the season, like all of our seasonal blends.
Third -
Introducing Benifuuki Powder in a 50g Pouch
You already know about our Benifuuki, and now it comes in a new package, in a larger size than the earlier 14 stick pack.
Isn’t the package cute? It’s designed by Miki Pon as usual.
In case you do not know, Benifuuki (べにふうき) is a tasty tea good for allergy. It tastes good as is, even if you don’t have allergies.
It’s the same powder as the stick packs, just in a 50g resealable pouch. One pouch makes about 84 cups, so it is the cheapest way to drink it by far. We are retiring the stick packs toward the end of the year, so this is the one to switch to.
One more thing worth knowing. What makes Benifuuki work is methylated catechins, and those are normally bitter. The Arahataen team grows this one in a soil they developed themselves, which keeps the catechins in the leaf and softens that bitterness.
Be the first to try out the new cute package!
Fourth -
Kazumi Napa Valley Koshu, Now in a Half Bottle
Our Kazumi Napa Valley Koshu now comes in a half bottle.
A full bottle is a lot when it is just dinner for two on a weeknight. So if you have been curious about Koshu but didn’t want to open a whole bottle, this is the easy way in.
It scored 94 points. White flowers and citrus first, kumquat and mandarin. Then crisp apple and grapefruit, with a mineral edge and a clean finish. It goes really well with food.
Fifth -
New on History of Katana: 4 National Treasure Katanas
The newest episode is about four katana that Japan designated National Treasures. One of them cut down a traitor.
Sixth -
This Sunday: Come See Us in San Diego, CA
We will be at Taste of Shogun on Sunday, September 27, 12pm to 7pm, at Embolden Beer Co., 8655 Production Avenue Ste A, San Diego, CA 92121. General admission is free.
First of all, their Hojicha beer is amazing. If you love tea and beer like me, you have to try it.
Second, they are having Takehiro Hira as a guest. Yes! He is the samurai in the popular Shogun. You get to take a picture with him.
And for History of Katana, I will be giving a presentation on how a katana is made. I am preparing the presentation now (talking about waiting for the last minute…) and already getting nervous... oh boy. Please come and see me being so nervous and red face on a stage. :0
We are bringing the new Benifuuki and the wines and coffee mentioned above with us, so that is a reason to come, not my presentation. (^^)
Seventh -
This Saturday: Ohio Tea Festival, Newark, OH
If you are going to the Ohio Tea Festival, yes, it is this Saturday, September 26, 10am to 6pm at the Cherry Valley Hotel in Newark, Ohio.
Make sure you sign up for the workshop by Tiffany Rupp, “Is it Matcha? Matcha vs Powdered Tea”. She is a long-time friend of ours, and she has a little goodie from us for you. Shhh...
Her presentation is really good and I am sure you will enjoy it.
Thank you so much as always for your support.
If you are at either event this weekend, please come and say hello. That is always the best part of the trip for me.
With love and gratitude,
Kei Nishida
& the team from Dream of Japan
