Okinawa vs. Hokkaido Milk Tea
Hojicha milk tea latte
Tea is essential to Japanese culture and also the country’s most prominent beverage. The Japanese respect it so highly that they also have a conventional tea ceremony for it! They think the ceremony develops a bond in between the host and the guest welcomed for tea. At the same time, the tea ceremony brings internal peace to both host and guest.
Apart from its famous matcha tea, Japan is additionally well known for its variety of milk tea – two of them being the Okinawa and Hokkaido milk tea. The major difference in between them is their components. Okinawa milk tea makes use of a specific brown sugar from that city, while Hokkaido milk tea utilizes rich, creamy milk from within its region.
This post will certainly specify extra on comparing these 2 kinds 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 beverage that has a great deal of variations throughout the globe. Interestingly, also the strange bubble tea is an example! Generally, the Okinawa Milk Tea has a sweet and also milky taste owing to its base tea, which is imperial milk tea (a blend that includes even more milk than the basic formula).
Its unique component is the kokuto, a brownish sugar native to the southern region of Japan. Kokuto is ready noticeably compared to routine white sugar. It is made by cooking sugarcane juice, a very healthy and balanced sweetener with a high material of nutrients, without shedding taste.
Some people even specify that kokuto is the healthiest form of sugar worldwide. Black tea of the finest quality (like Assam or Ceylon) is utilized to prepare this drink. Okinawa Milk Tea can be enjoyed 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 called after the region of its beginning. Hokkaido is the second biggest island in Japan and a renowned traveler spot. The Hokkaido Milk Tea, famously called Nidanshi Milk, is a timeless drink prominent amongst travelers and also citizens alike.
This tea typically obtains confused with boba or the Okinawa Milk Tea. However, what is unique concerning the drink is its technique of preparation. Black tea of excellent quality (Assam tear or Earl Grey) is utilized with sweetener and the unique Hokkaido milk, which offers it its creamy taste.
Milk from Hokkaido is special from other milk as the island gets on the northern most point of Japan. Moreover, it has the biggest grasslands and the best weather, making it an all-natural as well as healthy place with the cleanest air– excellent for increasing livestock. For this reason, the milk from Hokkaido is thicker and also creamier than normal milk.
Even though these 2 are different sort of tea, Hokkaido as well as Okinawa Milk Tea often obtain puzzled with each other. Nonetheless, if you are an enthusiast who would certainly want to try both these variants especially, there are ways in which you can tell these drinks apart.
1. Methods of Prep work
Both the sorts of tea are prepared likewise, however 2 particular things set them apart. First, Hokkaido Milk Tea is prepared with unique Hokkaido milk similarly you prepare tea. However, with Okinawa milk tea, you cook the kokuto till it ends up being less thick as a sugar prior to including it to the drink.
2. Taste
Both drinks have remarkable, pleasant flavors when it pertains to taste. They can also be made to taste like each other.
Hokkaido Milk Tea has a rich, creamy texture and is extremely thick because of the top quality of the milk. Considering that the black tea made use of for preparing it is additionally the finest, the fallen leaves include a solid, baked taste to the drink. Generally, you may find the Hokkaido Milk Tea to taste like caramel with a slight tinge of vanilla.
On the other hand, Okinawa tea is additionally typically pleasant, yet its taste is dominated by black tea. Although the texture might also be thick, it will certainly not be as creamy as Hokkaido Milk Tea, as the molasses are developed by kokuto. You might find the taste to be a little toasted generally.
3. Beginning
As recommended by their names, both the drinks are belonging to Japan. Hokkaido Milk Tea is belonging to Hokkaido – the 2nd largest Island in Japan, which is popular for its excellent quality and quality of the fish and shellfish. Okinawa Milk Tea originates from Okinawa – a visitor spot popular for its unique cuisine and also beaches.
4. Cost
Both the drinks might have comparable ingredients, but the rarity of the components which make them the beverages they are affects the price of the tea. Hokkaido milk and also its powder are costly compared to kokuto, which can be changed by routine brownish sugar.
The price per 8oz mug of Okinawa Milk Tea is around $1.12, while the cost of Hokkaido Milk Tea for the exact same is $1.88. Consequently, as can be drawn from this info, Hokkaido Milk Tea is on the extra expensive side.
Putting Milk Into Glass
4. Nutrition
Although both types of tea are comparable, they use different ingredients native to a specific location, making their nutritional profiles different. To assist you comprehend the dietary value of both these drinks, we have prepared the complying with 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 wonderful. Nonetheless, it is much healthier due to how organic as well as fresh Hokkaido milk is. As a result, it is most definitely a healthier choice between the two.
Final Thoughts.
There is a whole lot to discover in Japan – particularly when it involves remarkable food. Both the Hokkaido and also Okinawa milk teas are a must-try if you visit the country. You can even attempt making the dish at home. These refreshing Japanese teas will certainly invigorate and de-stress you as well as offset a quick, filling snack.