Japanese Tea Shop in Shiga
Posted on 20. Jan, 2008 @ 4:16 pm by harvey in Food, Travel
I went to a tea shop in Shiga-ken, in the Shigaraki area last month. We went by car from the station after a failed attempt to visit the Miho Museum. (It was closed! ARGH!) I couldn’t tell you how to get here off the top of my head, but if anyone really wants to know, let me know in the comments and I’ll get the info from my friends. It’s way out of the way and only accessible by car.
The shop had three tables like this. The kettle contains hot water to make tea.
Preparing tea as we browse the sweets menu.
This is called kusa-mochi. Kusa means “grass”, and mochi as you may know, is the Japanese sticky rice cake. It was insanely delicious. The outside is crisp, but the inside is melty-stretchy-sticky hot. The “grass” that is mixed with the mochi is called yomogi. (蓬 or 艾, my dictionary says there is a phrase, よもぎのような髪, which literally means, “hair like yomogi”, and has the meaning of “unkempt hair.” Awesome.)
This is “zenzai”, which is a famous Japanese dessert you can usually find around any traditional sight-seeing area in the winter. It is a sweet (oh so sweet!) soup with anko (sweet red beans) and mochi inside. Excellent, especially in the winter!
If only photos were edible.
- Harvey
9 Responses to “Japanese Tea Shop in Shiga”
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Thomas
Jan 20th, 2008
at 20:30
Have you been to Miho Museum before. My wife and I visited last year and we were impressed. Hopefully it will be open the next time you try to go there.
harvey
Jan 20th, 2008
at 21:19
I never have been to the Miho museum. I will though… I will… get my… revenge.
Natsuki
Jan 20th, 2008
at 22:05
Ake-ome, Harvey.
I just had Anmitsu after dinner, but Kusamochi with red beans in your pic looks so much better…yummy!
Heather Meadows
Jan 21st, 2008
at 04:28
Wow…it all looks so good!
Grace
Jan 21st, 2008
at 06:47
Your last comment was mean! :O It was obviously all edible for YOU. I’ve never had zenzai – I wanna try it!
lina
Jan 21st, 2008
at 22:32
no fair! I want to go too….
Chrissy
Jan 22nd, 2008
at 03:53
The Kanji of yomogi 艾 is the same as the 2nd kanji of my Chinese name! kewl!
These mochi looks unbelievably yummy!! I’ve been dying to eat mochi since we moved back to North America. The one thing I miss the most is Shiratama anmitsu!!
Stephen
Feb 5th, 2008
at 08:17
I have no idea what these things taste like, but they look amazing. I wish i could eat the pixels. :)
Akiko Nambu
May 18th, 2008
at 16:02
I work at Miho museum, belonging to the public relations deparment. I am vry sorry that you visited the museum during the closing term. Hoping you to come the museum again near future!