Hojicha Latte (ほうじ茶ラテ) is a comforting hot drink made with deeply roasted, aromatic Hojicha and rich, frothy milk. Once a specialty found mainly in Japan, it has recently become a café staple, now enjoyed at local coffee shops and tea lounges around the world—and it’s quickly becoming a trendy favorite in the U.S. Whether lightly sweetened…
Chuhai (酎ハイ) is a Japanese cocktail which includes Shouchu liquor and carbonated water flavored with fruit syrup, juice or other sweeteners. Chuhai has been a popular drink in Japan at bars and restaurants, as well as canned versions you can easily find at stores there. Shouchu is a clear distilled liquor favored by many alcohol…
Matcha Latte (抹茶ラテ) is a warm milk drink with Matcha green tea powder and sweetener. It’s not really a latte since there is no espresso in it. But, it has become very popular since a big coffee shop chain put it on their menu.
Cream Soda is melon-flavored soda with ice cream on top, and it is a popular soft drink at Japanese “Kissaten” cafes (not cafes like Starbucks), which serve Spaghetti Neapolitan and Hot Cakes along with coffee and other drinks. Cream Soda is loved among kids for its sweet taste, but adults can enjoy it too, of course. People who…
Mugicha is a Japanese summer cold tea made from roasted barely. It has a very fragrant taste from roasting, almost like coffee. Because Mugicha is a no-caffeine tea, it’s been loved by everyone from the young to the old. It is the most popular drink of all time during summer in Japan.
Hiyashiame is a sweet ginger drink that is popular mainly in the Kansai (western) area in Japan. The spicy taste from ginger helps overcome brutal summer heat fatigue. A common sight during summer is a cold drink machine in the front of a tea shop or candy shop with Hiyashiame. It is also well known as…
Umeshu, or plum wine, is a popular sweet drink inside and outside Japan. This tasty drink is a great aperitif and also wonderful as a dessert wine after dinner. It’s often served chilled, over ice, or mixed with soda water.