Okinawa vs. Hokkaido Milk Tea
Hojicha milk tea latte
Tea is essential to Japanese culture and the nation’s most popular drink. The Japanese regard it so extremely that they even have a conventional tea ceremony for it! They think the ceremony creates a bond between the host and the guest invited for tea. At the same time, the tea ceremony brings inner tranquility to both host and visitor.
Besides its popular matcha tea, Japan is additionally well known for its variety of milk tea – 2 of them being the Okinawa and also Hokkaido milk tea. The primary distinction in between them is their components. Okinawa milk tea utilizes a particular brown sugar from that city, while Hokkaido milk tea utilizes abundant, velvety milk from within its area.
This article will elaborate much more on comparing these 2 sorts of milk tea.
What is Okinawa Milk Tea?
Okinawa Brown Sugar Milk Tea
Okinawa Brown Sugar Milk Tea with Pearls
The Okinawa Milk Tea is a creamy beverage that has a lot of variants across the globe. Surprisingly, even the peculiar bubble tea is a sample! Normally, the Okinawa Milk Tea has a wonderful as well as milky flavor owing to its base tea, which is royal milk tea (a mix that includes more milk than the basic formula).
Its unique component is the kokuto, a brownish sugar native to the southern area of Japan. Kokuto is ready clearly contrasted to regular white sugar. It is made by cooking sugarcane juice, an extremely healthy sugar with a high web content of vitamins and minerals, without losing flavor.
Some people also state that kokuto is the healthiest form of sugar on the planet. Black tea of the highest quality (like Assam or Ceylon) is utilized to prepare this beverage. Okinawa Milk Tea can be appreciated in any manner – hot, chilly, or offered with pudding pearls in the form of boba tea.
What is Hokkaido Milk Tea?
Bubble milk tea in a plastic mug
Hokkaido Milk Tea is one more special Japanese tea called after the region of its beginning. Hokkaido is the 2nd biggest island in Japan and a famous visitor spot. The Hokkaido Milk Tea, commonly called Nidanshi Milk, is a traditional drink preferred amongst tourists and citizens alike.
This tea often gets puzzled with boba or the Okinawa Milk Tea. However, what is distinct regarding the drink is its method of prep work. Black tea of premium quality (Assam tear or Earl Grey) is used with sweetener and the special Hokkaido milk, which gives it its luscious flavor.
Milk from Hokkaido is one-of-a-kind from other milk as the island gets on the northern most factor of Japan. In addition, it has the biggest meadows as well as the best climate, making it a natural as well as healthy and balanced area with the cleanest air– ideal for increasing livestock. Hence, the milk from Hokkaido is thicker and creamier than regular milk.
Despite the fact that these 2 are different kinds of tea, Hokkaido and Okinawa Milk Tea usually get confused with each other. Nonetheless, if you are a lover who would intend to try both these variants especially, there are ways in which you can inform these beverages apart.
1. Techniques of Preparation
Both the sorts of tea are ready likewise, however two particular points established them apart. First, Hokkaido Milk Tea is prepared with unique Hokkaido milk in the same way you prepare tea. However, with Okinawa milk tea, you prepare the kokuto up until it comes to be much less dense as a sugar before adding it to the beverage.
2. Preference
Both drinks have memorable, sweet tastes when it comes to taste. They can additionally be made to taste like each other.
Hokkaido Milk Tea has an abundant, velvety appearance as well as is very thick because of the top quality of the milk. Because the black tea made use of for preparing it is likewise the finest, the fallen leaves add a solid, baked flavor to the beverage. On the whole, you may discover the Hokkaido Milk Tea to taste like caramel with a small tint of vanilla.
On the other hand, Okinawa tea is also typically pleasant, however its taste is dominated by black tea. Although the texture might likewise be thick, it will not be as luscious as Hokkaido Milk Tea, as the molasses are produced by kokuto. You might find the flavor to be a little toasted on the whole.
3. Origin
As suggested by their names, both the beverages are native to Japan. Hokkaido Milk Tea is native to Hokkaido – the 2nd largest Island in Japan, which is popular for its top quality and also freshness of the fish and shellfish. Okinawa Milk Tea comes from Okinawa – a traveler spot popular for its special cuisine as well as beaches.
4. Price
Both the beverages might have similar active ingredients, but the rarity of the components which make them the beverages they are affects the expense of the tea. Hokkaido milk as well as its powder are costly contrasted to kokuto, which can be changed by normal brown sugar.
The price per 8oz mug of Okinawa Milk Tea is around $1.12, while the rate of Hokkaido Milk Tea for the same is $1.88. Therefore, as can be drawn from this info, Hokkaido Milk Tea is on the more pricey side.
Pouring Milk Into Glass
4. Nutrition
Although both types of tea are comparable, they make use of various active ingredients belonging to a certain location, making their nutritional accounts different. To help you understand the nutritional value of both these beverages, we have prepared the following table.
NutrientOkinawa Milk TeaHokkaido Milk Tea
Calories294100
Fat 10 g1g
Calcium400 mg313 mg
Carbohydrates110 g33 g.
Cholesterol6 mg0 mg.
From the table, we can derive that although Hokkaido Milk Tea is pleasant. Nevertheless, it is much healthier as a result of just how organic as well as fresh Hokkaido milk is. Consequently, it is certainly a much healthier selection between both.
Final Thoughts.
There is a great deal to discover in Japan – particularly when it involves outstanding food. Both the Hokkaido and Okinawa milk teas are a must-try if you go to the nation. You can also try making the dish in your home. These revitalizing Japanese teas will certainly energize as well as de-stress you and also make up for a fast, loading treat.