Japanese Food Tips

Many people order kaki-gōri (shaved ice) in the summer in Japan. Strawberry, lemon or melon taste syrup or sweetened condensed milk are popular toppings. Also very popular is ujikintoki, in which matcha green tea is poured over the shaved ice and then sweetened red bean paste (anko) is added on top. (Uji, a city south of Kyoto, is a very famous green tea production area.) The bitterness of matcha and the sweetness of anko suit cold shaved ice very well. Try it if you are in Japan during the hot summer.