Okinawa vs. Hokkaido Milk Tea
Hojicha milk tea latte
Tea is important to Japanese society and also the nation’s most popular beverage. The Japanese regard it so highly that they also have a conventional tea ceremony for it! They believe the rite produces 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 as well as visitor.
Apart from its famous matcha tea, Japan is likewise well known for its variety of milk tea – 2 of them being the Okinawa and Hokkaido milk tea. The main difference in between them is their ingredients. Okinawa milk tea utilizes a certain brownish sugar from that city, while Hokkaido milk tea makes use of rich, creamy milk from within its area.
This post will elaborate extra on comparing 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 lot of variants across the world. Interestingly, also the strange bubble tea is an example! Generally, the Okinawa Milk Tea has a pleasant as well as milklike taste owing to its base tea, which is imperial milk tea (a mix that includes more milk than the standard formula).
Its special component is the kokuto, a brownish sugar native to the southern area of Japan. Kokuto is prepared distinctly compared to normal white sugar. It is made by food preparation sugarcane juice, a very healthy sweetener with a high web content of vitamins and minerals, without losing flavor.
Some individuals also state that kokuto is the healthiest type of sugar on the planet. Black tea of the finest quality (like Assam or Ceylon) is used to prepare this beverage. Okinawa Milk Tea can be appreciated in any manner – hot, cool, 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 another unique Japanese tea called after the area of its beginning. Hokkaido is the second biggest island in Japan and a popular vacationer spot. The Hokkaido Milk Tea, widely called Nidanshi Milk, is a classic beverage popular among tourists as well as residents alike.
This tea commonly gets puzzled with boba or the Okinawa Milk Tea. However, what is unique regarding the beverage is its method of preparation. Black tea of excellent quality (Assam tear or Earl Grey) is utilized with sugar as well as the special Hokkaido milk, which provides it its creamy taste.
Milk from Hokkaido is one-of-a-kind from various other milk as the island gets on the northernmost point of Japan. Moreover, it has the biggest grasslands and also the most effective weather condition, making it an all-natural and also healthy place with the cleanest air– ideal for increasing cattle. For this reason, the milk from Hokkaido is thicker and creamier than regular milk.
Although these two are different type of tea, Hokkaido as well as Okinawa Milk Tea frequently get perplexed with each other. However, if you are a fanatic who would intend to attempt both these variants particularly, there are methods which you can tell these drinks apart.
1. Methods of Preparation
Both the types of tea are prepared likewise, however 2 certain points established them apart. First, Hokkaido Milk Tea is prepared with unique Hokkaido milk in the same way you prepare tea. Nevertheless, with Okinawa milk tea, you cook the kokuto till it ends up being much less dense as a sweetener prior to adding it to the beverage.
2. Taste
Both drinks have remarkable, sweet flavors when it pertains to taste. They can also be made to taste like each other.
Hokkaido Milk Tea has an abundant, creamy appearance and also is really thick due to the high quality of the milk. Considering that the black tea utilized for preparing it is additionally the finest, the fallen leaves include a strong, baked taste to the drink. Overall, you might find the Hokkaido Milk Tea to taste like caramel with a mild tint of vanilla.
On the other hand, Okinawa tea is likewise normally sweet, yet its flavor is dominated by black tea. Although the appearance might additionally be thick, it will not be as creamy as Hokkaido Milk Tea, as the molasses are developed by kokuto. You could discover the flavor to be a little toasted generally.
3. Origin
As suggested by their names, both the beverages are belonging to Japan. Hokkaido Milk Tea is belonging to Hokkaido – the 2nd largest Island in Japan, which is renowned for its top quality and also freshness of the fish and shellfish. Okinawa Milk Tea originates from Okinawa – a vacationer area famous for its one-of-a-kind cuisine and beaches.
4. Cost
Both the drinks might have similar components, yet the rarity of the active ingredients which make them the beverages they are influences the expense of the tea. Hokkaido milk and also its powder are costly compared to kokuto, which can be replaced by regular brown sugar.
The cost per 8oz cup 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 details, Hokkaido Milk Tea gets on the extra expensive side.
Putting Milk Into Glass
4. Nourishment
Although both types of tea are similar, they use various active ingredients belonging to a specific place, making their dietary accounts different. To aid you understand the nutritional value of both these beverages, 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 pleasant. Nevertheless, it is much healthier due to exactly how natural and also fresh Hokkaido milk is. Consequently, it is absolutely a much healthier choice between both.
Last Thoughts.
There is a lot to find in Japan – especially when it involves remarkable food. Both the Hokkaido as well as Okinawa milk teas are a must-try if you check out the nation. You can also try making the recipe in your home. These refreshing Japanese teas will stimulate as well as de-stress you and also offset a quick, filling up snack.