Okinawa vs. Hokkaido Milk Tea
Hojicha milk tea cappucino
Tea is important to Japanese culture and the nation’s most prominent drink. The Japanese respect it so very that they also have a traditional tea ceremony for it! They believe the rite produces a bond between the host as well as the guest welcomed for tea. At the same time, the tea ceremony brings internal peace to both host as well as visitor.
Besides its well-known matcha tea, Japan is likewise popular for its range of milk tea – 2 of them being the Okinawa and also Hokkaido milk tea. The major difference in between them is their active ingredients. Okinawa milk tea utilizes a specific brown sugar from that city, while Hokkaido milk tea makes use of abundant, luscious milk from within its area.
This article will certainly elaborate more on distinguishing between these two 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 velvety drink that has a lot of variants throughout the globe. Interestingly, even the strange bubble tea is an example! Generally, the Okinawa Milk Tea has a sweet as well as milklike flavor owing to its base tea, which is imperial milk tea (a mix that adds even more milk than the basic formula).
Its unique component is the kokuto, a brownish sugar native to the southerly region of Japan. Kokuto is ready definitely compared to regular white sugar. It is made by cooking sugarcane juice, an extremely healthy and balanced sweetener with a high material of vitamins and minerals, without shedding taste.
Some individuals also state that kokuto is the healthiest type of sugar in the world. Black tea of the highest quality (like Assam or Ceylon) is used to prepare this beverage. Okinawa Milk Tea can be appreciated in any manner – warm, cold, 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 unique Japanese tea named after the area of its beginning. Hokkaido is the 2nd biggest island in Japan and a well-known traveler spot. The Hokkaido Milk Tea, widely called Nidanshi Milk, is a traditional beverage preferred among tourists and also locals alike.
This tea commonly gets perplexed with boba or the Okinawa Milk Tea. Nevertheless, what is one-of-a-kind regarding the drink is its approach of prep work. Black tea of premium quality (Assam tear or Earl Grey) is utilized with sweetener and also the special Hokkaido milk, which gives it its luscious taste.
Milk from Hokkaido is special from various other milk as the island is on the northernmost factor of Japan. Moreover, it has the biggest meadows and the most effective weather condition, making it a natural and healthy and balanced area with the cleanest air– best for raising livestock. Hence, the milk from Hokkaido is thicker as well as creamier than normal milk.
Despite the fact that these 2 are various kinds of tea, Hokkaido and also Okinawa Milk Tea usually obtain puzzled with each other. Nonetheless, if you are an enthusiast who would certainly want to attempt both these variations especially, there are methods which you can inform these drinks apart.
1. Techniques of Preparation
Both the sorts of tea are ready likewise, however two particular points established them apart. Initially, Hokkaido Milk Tea is prepared with unique Hokkaido milk similarly you prepare tea. Nonetheless, with Okinawa milk tea, you cook the kokuto until it comes to be much less thick as a sweetener before including it to the beverage.
2. Preference
Both drinks have memorable, wonderful flavors when it pertains to taste. They can also be made to taste like each other.
Hokkaido Milk Tea has a rich, creamy appearance and also is really thick because of the top quality of the milk. Since the black tea utilized for preparing it is additionally the finest, the fallen leaves add a solid, baked flavor to the drink. Overall, you might find the Hokkaido Milk Tea to taste like sugar with a small tint of vanilla.
On the other hand, Okinawa tea is also typically sweet, however its flavor is controlled by black tea. Although the appearance may also be thick, it will not be as creamy as Hokkaido Milk Tea, as the molasses are produced by kokuto. You may discover the taste to be somewhat toasted in general.
3. Origin
As suggested by their names, both the drinks are native to Japan. Hokkaido Milk Tea is belonging to Hokkaido – the second biggest Island in Japan, which is popular for its premium quality and also freshness of the seafood. Okinawa Milk Tea originates from Okinawa – a traveler place famous for its special food and beaches.
4. Rate
Both the drinks may have similar ingredients, however the rarity of the ingredients which make them the drinks they are impacts the cost of the tea. Hokkaido milk and its powder are pricey compared to kokuto, which can be replaced by normal brown sugar.
The price per 8oz mug of Okinawa Milk Tea is around $1.12, while the price of Hokkaido Milk Tea for the very same is $1.88. For that reason, as can be drawn from this information, Hokkaido Milk Tea is on the more expensive side.
Pouring Milk Into Glass
4. Nutrition
Although both kinds of tea are similar, they utilize various ingredients native to a specific location, making their dietary accounts various. To assist you comprehend the nutritional value of both these drinks, we have prepared the adhering to table.
NutrientOkinawa Milk TeaHokkaido Milk Tea
Calories294100
Fat 10 g1g
Calcium400 mg313 mg
Carbohydrates110 g33 g.
Cholesterol6 mg0 mg.
From the table, we can obtain that although Hokkaido Milk Tea is sweet. Nevertheless, it is much healthier because of exactly how natural and also fresh Hokkaido milk is. Consequently, it is absolutely a healthier option in between both.
Last Thoughts.
There is a lot to uncover in Japan – particularly when it involves incredible food. Both the Hokkaido and Okinawa milk teas are a must-try if you visit the nation. You can even attempt making the recipe at home. These revitalizing Japanese teas will certainly energize as well as de-stress you and offset a fast, loading snack.