Okinawa vs. Hokkaido Milk Tea
Hojicha milk tea latte
Tea is important to Japanese society and also the nation’s most prominent beverage. The Japanese respect it so very that they even have a standard tea ceremony for it! They think the ceremony develops a bond in between the host and the visitor welcomed for tea. At the same time, the tea ceremony brings inner peace to both host and guest.
Besides its popular matcha tea, Japan is also well known for its variety of milk tea – 2 of them being the Okinawa as well as Hokkaido milk tea. The main difference in between them is their components. Okinawa milk tea makes use of a specific brown sugar from that city, while Hokkaido milk tea uses abundant, creamy milk from within its area.
This post will certainly elaborate more on distinguishing between these 2 types 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 drink that has a great deal of variations across the world. Interestingly, even the strange bubble tea is a sample! Typically, the Okinawa Milk Tea has a wonderful and also milky flavor owing to its base tea, which is royal milk tea (a blend that adds more milk than the common formula).
Its unique ingredient is the kokuto, a brown sugar native to the southern region of Japan. Kokuto is prepared definitely compared to routine white sugar. It is made by cooking sugarcane juice, a very healthy and balanced sugar with a high material of vitamins and minerals, without losing taste.
Some individuals even mention that kokuto is the healthiest kind of sugar in the world. Black tea of the finest quality (like Assam or Ceylon) is used to prepare this drink. Okinawa Milk Tea can be appreciated in any manner – hot, cold, or served with tapioca 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 origin. Hokkaido is the second biggest island in Japan as well as a famous vacationer spot. The Hokkaido Milk Tea, commonly called Nidanshi Milk, is a classic beverage prominent among travelers as well as residents alike.
This tea commonly gets puzzled with boba or the Okinawa Milk Tea. Nevertheless, what is unique regarding the beverage is its technique of prep work. Black tea of high quality (Assam tear or Earl Grey) is utilized with sugar and the special Hokkaido milk, which gives it its luscious taste.
Milk from Hokkaido is one-of-a-kind from various other milk as the island is on the northern most point of Japan. In addition, it has the largest meadows as well as the best weather condition, making it a natural and also healthy place with the cleanest air– perfect for elevating livestock. Hence, the milk from Hokkaido is thicker as well as creamier than routine milk.
Although these 2 are different kinds of tea, Hokkaido and Okinawa Milk Tea commonly get perplexed with each other. Nonetheless, if you are an enthusiast who would wish to attempt both these variations especially, there are methods which you can tell these drinks apart.
1. Approaches of Preparation
Both the sorts of tea are prepared likewise, yet two particular things established them apart. First, Hokkaido Milk Tea is prepared with special Hokkaido milk in the same way you prepare tea. Nevertheless, with Okinawa milk tea, you prepare the kokuto up until it comes to be much less thick as a sweetener before including it to the beverage.
2. Preference
Both drinks have remarkable, sweet flavors when it comes to taste. They can additionally be made to taste like each other.
Hokkaido Milk Tea has a rich, velvety structure and is very thick because of the high quality of the milk. Since the black tea used for preparing it is also the finest, the leaves include a solid, baked taste to the drink. On the whole, you might discover the Hokkaido Milk Tea to taste like sugar with a minor tinge of vanilla.
On the other hand, Okinawa tea is also normally pleasant, yet its taste is dominated by black tea. Although the texture may additionally be thick, it will certainly not be as creamy as Hokkaido Milk Tea, as the molasses are produced by kokuto. You could discover the flavor to be a little toasted overall.
3. Origin
As suggested by their names, both the drinks are native to Japan. Hokkaido Milk Tea is native to Hokkaido – the 2nd largest Island in Japan, which is well-known for its excellent quality and freshness of the seafood. Okinawa Milk Tea originates from Okinawa – a traveler spot renowned for its distinct food and coastlines.
4. Cost
Both the drinks may have comparable ingredients, but the rarity of the components that make them the beverages they are affects the price of the tea. Hokkaido milk and its powder are pricey compared to kokuto, which can be replaced by routine brownish sugar.
The cost per 8oz cup of Okinawa Milk Tea is around $1.12, while the price of Hokkaido Milk Tea for the exact same is $1.88. As a result, as can be drawn from this info, Hokkaido Milk Tea is on the much more pricey side.
Putting Milk Into Glass
4. Nutrition
Although both sorts of tea are similar, they use various ingredients belonging to a particular location, making their nutritional accounts various. To help you recognize the nutritional worth 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 acquire that although Hokkaido Milk Tea is sweet. However, it is much healthier as a result of just how natural and also fresh Hokkaido milk is. For that reason, it is absolutely a healthier selection between the two.
Last Thoughts.
There is a whole lot to uncover in Japan – specifically when it comes to fantastic food. Both the Hokkaido as well as Okinawa milk teas are a must-try if you visit the country. You can also try making the dish in the house. These revitalizing Japanese teas will certainly stimulate as well as de-stress you as well as offset a fast, filling snack.