Reported by Ayutami
What flavour do you start to imagine or think if someone ask you about Japan? immediately, every kind of foods and beverages made in Japan are started to pop up in your head. Yes, every countries have their own unique flavour in the foods and beverages. When people eat, they will associate that special taste with a specific country. For Indonesia, they will associate it with spices. Spices are commonly used in a foods and beverages . Though Indonesia people/market has a preference of taste, they are very welcome and willing to try a new taste of a product (food and beverage). The reason behind it, might related to the rich history of acculturation in Indonesia especially in culinary. When Sushi, Ramen, Okonomiyaki, Bento were presented to Indonesian plate, it was the early encounter with Japan disticnt taste. Fish, nory and other sea-flavour were commonly found in that food. That is why sometimes the taste of sea is associated with Japan food.
As time goes by, Indonesia people start to know many other Japanese cultures. One of them is Japanese Tea ceremony. Eventhough Indonesia are familiar with tea, but not quite with green tea. The preservation of tea ceremony in Japan especially Matcha, makes Japanese tea culture distinct to tea cultures in other Asian countries. Matcha flavour is stronger than the taste of a regular green tea itself. For fans or members of Japanese Tea Ceremony in big cities of Indonesia might be familiar with the taste. But for widely spread, matcha-flavoured product is the best way to introduce it. Pocky, a famous Japan cofectionary and a popular brand in Indonesia, has introduced a Matcha-flavoured Pocky. it is a great way to introduce matcha since Pocky has established a market for other flavours for example strawberry and chocolate.
We can also found green tea in a bottled-drinking, which is convinient for daily use. As we know before that green tea might not as popular as jasmine tea in Indonesia, but nowadays it gains more popularity due to healthy lifestyle trend. The colour is not as darker as the regular tea, it tends to green colour. And the taste might be slight different from other tea. Eventhough green tea has slight bitter tone but not as stronger as matcha does. Green tea become a briding way to introduce matcha.
Then a bottle of Kiyora Matcha Latte will be the best way to try matcha flavour. The mix between matcha and milk becomes a harmonious blend without eliminate the bitter Matcha completely. The green colour and the flavour of it, adding to its coolness. Green, which reflects the freshness of the product, is suitable with the hot climate of Indonesia. It is also promote Japan as a country which concern with the green and hygienic standard of life. When I enjoy these products, I always imagine being in a green and lush Japanese garden, under sprinkle of rain...enjoying my Zen-time. Aah, it is rain season in Indonesia now, you’ll better get this Matcha Product!
Information
Product name 1: Pocky Matcha 33 gr
Price range : Rp. 7.500 – Rp. 25.000
URL http://www.pocky.com/products/matcha.html
Product name 2: Kiyora Matcha Latte
Price range : Rp. 7.000 – Rp. 9.000
URL http://www.kiyora.co.id/product-detail/kiyora-matcha-latte
Reference articles
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matcha
https://www.fun-japan.jp/id/Articles/2014/12/04/06/07/ID_20141206-09-Kosoan-Jiyugaoka
http://www.teahouseemporium.co.uk/tea-news/matcha-madness-everything-you-need-to-know/
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