Bubble Tea and Sweet pearls

In the streets of Tokyo, you will certainly run into girls carying a big closed glass in plastic surmounted by a straw. Inside of it, a colorfull and think drink and brown little bubbles at the bottom. And then, a question cross your mind. What it is ? Is it good ? And above all... Where can you get one ?!? Only one question you said ? Well, in the right order: this is a Bubble Tea or Boba Tea, a beverage made with milk and which comes from Taiwan with some Tapioca bublles inside; yes, it is good, and no, you do not need to cross all Tokyo to find it as many shops sell it.

The translucent glass lets us realize that this surprising drink can be of many impressive colors... From pink to orange, going through green, white or brown. In your mounth, it seems to be strawberry, mango, matcha (or green tea), coconut, chocolate or even coffee... while this beverage can be made from milk, tea or mixed fruits. About the little brown bubbles, at the bottom of the glass, which give to this drink all its originalitu, they are tapioca bubbles. Their texture is smooth and their taste soft but quite bitter, which can be a little weird as the beverage is really sweet.

Sweet Pearls'Bubble Tea

Bubble Tea is available in many little bars or stands, and most of them are located in the districts where young people stay, as Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya... or Takadanobaba, where I tasted it in a little shop which is between the eponymous station and Waseda University: Sweet Pearls. This little shop, whose colorfull sign reminds us that it is more adapted for girls and couples, lets us buy Bubble Tea not only to drink them in it but also to take them away. There are also some meals (mostly colorfull ramens) but I have not tried them yet, as the prices seemed a little big compare to the size of the meals (between 650 et 750¥ for one bowl).

Haunted by the idea of tasting this beverage that many people had tried to introduce to me before, I entered into this shop at the end of the afternoon, a sunday, with a friend of mine. The room was pretty empty. We both ordered a Bubble Tea (with some difficulties, as the menu is only available in katakanas (japanese)) but our two drinks did not look like each other at all: My friend's one was cold cocoa with Tapioca bubble and mine's was hot matcha with tapioca bubbles too. Indead, it is possible to choose, not only the flavour of your drink but also the heat of it and the presence of tapioca bubbles... but, without these bubbles, it is not bubble tea anymore, isn't it ? Both drinks cost 300¥ and were made with flavoured milk. I do not think that the shop had drinks made with fruits or only tea, but I cannot assure so.

Sweet Pearls'menu 

Once we paid our drinks, we settled ourselves at the very collorful back of the shop, to wait our glasses. There are two little round tables made from iron, as on a beach, and others little places against the wall. Even if it can be weird at the beginning, you will quickly find out that it is really considered as normal to go alone to restaurants in Japan. The capacity must be around 10 people but I have never seen it full while I live very close to it and see it almost everyday.

Our drinks arrived very quickly and we began our tasting. First sip, first surprise. To drink milk flavoured Bubble tea is almost like drinking sweet hot milk. My matcha drink was really sweet while the cacao's one was a little more bitter. The liquid was green, tasty. And these little bubbles were... Mmm... The straw is wide enough to suck one up: so you put your straw at the bottom of your glass and, cautiously... you take a glup, this time. Second surprise. It is soft, kind of sweet but bitter than the beverage. It is difficult to explain exactly the consistance of it. If you know Japanese habits, it looks like bubble of mochi. If you do not, then... I would say it seems to be a piece of bread after being plundged during a long period of time into a soup.

Well. The description est a little difficult to make and the beverage is better than it seems when you read this comment, I assure you. It is really sweet. Maybe to much, by the way... It can become a little nauseating at this end and do not think of the amount of calories that it contains. I must be as high as the one of Coffee Shops like Starbucks. But as the number of sodas is really reduced in Japan and as tea is the only beverage you will drink during all your stay appart from water, you can try the surprising drink ! V(^_^)V

Marièke Poulat

Christmas in Japan

Halloween's decorations have just been put away in cupboards at the end of October when the different shop windows of Tokyo are covered with red and white of Christmas. All becomes tinsels, snow, christmas tree and candels. Streets follow at the beginning of December. The more known districts in Tokyo for their Christmas' illuminations are Shibuya, Harajuku or also Roppongi, but most of the streets of Tokyo are decorated. Streetlights are often surrounded by lights. In addition to this magical atmosphere, many European Christmas market are put in place, for instance in Roppongi, with the German one.

Roppongi Hills and its illuminations

In conclusion, the perfect Christmas'picture transposed in Tokyo. Transposed. That is the important word of the sentence. As the kind of Christmas that we know in France, a familial and religious celebration, has been adapted by Japanese people. Indead, in Japan, Christmas does not have the same values as French Christmas, which can be explained by the absence of catholical religion's print. Christmas is here a guy who wears red and white clothes giving presents thanks to his sleigh and his friends, hobgoblins and reindeers. Jesus' birth is forgotten and there is not any crèche settled under christmas trees and even less Midnight Mass in Japanese Temples and Shrines on the 25^th of December.

In Japan, Christmas is the equivalent of the French New Year. It is celebrated by parties between friends, rendez-vous... Indead, it is above all a Love celebration and, in Christmas Eve, the tradition is to go out with your lover to admire illumination in animated districts of Tokyo after eating together. That is why you should not be surprised to find a Christmas Box in Mac Donald, for instance, a giant Happy Meal for two with nuggets, two drinks and a huge portion of frites to share.

« Christmas Box » by Mc Do for Christmas

Christmas at Mac Do or how Christmas and Christmas Eve dinner in Japan is not a good moment for gastronomy. No fois gras, no turkey served with chestnuts, no chocolates... Courses of the Christmas Eve dinner are the same as usually in Japanese families. The only diferences are the presence of fried chicken, kind of a giant nugget, in all combinis and of a cake for the desert... Which is important to notice as, first, most of the time deserts are absent at the end of the Japanese meals, and second, this is the Christmas Cake. A cake close to our Bûche de Noël in its texture, its favours (chocolate, coffee, chestnut...) but not in its shape, as it is rond.

Japanese Exceptions for Christmas Eve Dinner

Illuminations, lovers, gastronomy... but, where are the children ? After all, this is their favorite celebration in France ! They are the one spoiled there ! And in Japan too... Even if they do not avec the Advent Calendar which does not exist. However, they write their letter to the Father Christmas or Santa Claus and receive presents. But not under the Christmas Tree and even less in their slippers: I tell our habits to Japanese children and they were mezmerized. Presents are here left on their pillow or on their desk in Christmas morning. Like that, no need to leave the heat of the bed to open them. However, it is sometimes not a good idea to be precocious: some children stop to ask for presents to their parents when they discover who is the real Father Christmas. The story does not tell if parents impose that on their children or if they are really embarassed to ask for presents...

However, do not be to worried: they are not bullied. Indead, some days later, New Year arrives with its familial traditions and its presents. If Japanese Christmas is an event celebrated between lovers or friends, Japanese New Year, which is enjoyed in family, looks like the French Christmas and life just stops in Japan during the first days of January.

Marièke POULAT

Takoyaki, the most “insignificant” significant Japanese local delicacy ( Ding Yiyin)

Takoyaki (たこ焼き) is a popular ball-shaped, pan-fried dumpling made of batter. Among all the Japanese local snacks Takoyaki is probably the most well-renowned. Despite its usual pingpang- ball size, it was one of the most popular local foods that has been introduce abroad and enjoyed its prominence in Japan as well.
The invention of Takoyaki was inspired by Akashiyaki through a street vendor named Tomekichi Endo in Osaka, 1935. First enjoyed its populace in Kantai and then introduced to Kanto and other areas. Nowadays Takoyaki can be purchased in many street food stalls and in takoyaki specialty restaurants and eateries.

The batter for making Takoyaki are mixed with diced or whole baby octopus, tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger, and green onion. There are various types of Takoyaki, mostly different on toppings.

It became common to brushed Takoyaki balls with soy sauce and mayonnaise, and topped with green laver (aonori) and katsuobushi (shavings of dried bonito). There are many variations to the takoyaki recipe. For example, ponzu i.e. soy sauce with dashi and citrus vinegar, goma-dare i.e. sesame-and-vinegar sauce or vinegar dashi. Most Takoyaki balls are grilled a bit crispy on the outside and are hot and soft inside. The fresh baby octopus slices inside the ball just add the icing on the cake.

For people who found small Takoyaki balls boring. I would suggest them to try a Takoyaki store in Ikebukoro where you could get “giant” Takoyaki balls. In an ordinary stores you may need a dozen of Takoyaki balls to be full. Here only one would do the work. Of course there are many flavors to be chosen from and I will let you to discover that yourself!!!