Makinohara Matcha Syrup: A Taste of Shizuoka Prefecture's Tea Culture

Attention, tea lovers!

Today, I'm excited to share with you my recent delightful experience of a selection of tea products from Makinohara, a city lies in the heart of Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Now, if you're into Japanese tea, you must have heard about Shizuoka (静岡), the Prefecture sits halfway between Tokyo and Nagoya with the iconic Mt. Fuji, which has been, surprisingly, producing about 40% of Japan's tea.

Makinohara (牧之原), located in western Shizuoka as a seaside city, owns the largest tea farming region and tea producing areas in Japan where people can enjoy tea picking. ↓

Screenshot from Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YjH5tYaJ7RZJcxu37

I am a truly lucky person to receive a full box of tea products from Makinohara City. Without a doubt, I know I would appreciate the unique flavors and cultural heritage that these products bring to the table.

Here's a glimpse of what were included in the surprise box↓

How lucky I am to be able to given this whole package of Makinohara sencha tea bags, matcha tea syrup and two boxes of matcha leaf pie cookies.

Among these treasures, my favorite was the matcha tea syrup. Honestly speaking, I've enjoyed matcha in various forms before – from traditional tea to matcha-flavored desserts – but this matcha syrup caught my eye and it promised a whole new experience. Intrigued, I decided to incorporate it into my morning routine.

This morning, I decided to start my day with a normal breakfast – cabbage salad and a sunny-side up fried egg. And yet today, with the matcha syrup!

I reached for the matcha syrup and decided to pair it with a simple breakfast of my sunny-side up fried egg (目玉焼き).

Little did I know, I was about to embark on a flavor journey unlike any other.

The moment I took the first bite, OH MY GOODNESS – the explosion of matcha flavor was nothing short of sensational! The rich, robust taste of matcha infused every bite, complementing the slightly sweet notes of the syrup perfectly. 

But why stop there? Feeling unsatisfied, I decided to grab a piece of toast, get myself a cup of milk and have them with the syrup. ↓

I got the matcha syrup to elevate my breakfast routine this.

After taking a photo Snap, I opened my mouth wide and made a big bite of the toast.

Yes, yes, yes! It was a match made in culinary heaven! The crispy toast drizzled with the bold matcha flavor created a symphony of taste that forced me to finish the full piece of toast within a second. It even had me crave for more - so I ended up adding the syrup into my cup of milk and it tasted very good too.

Of course, I treated myself with a small cup of sencha hot sea afterwards.

But the magic doesn't stop at breakfast. After a quick search on the internet, I realized that matcha syrup can be used in many other ways. For example, simply to drizzle it over pancakes (or waffles), to mix it into some Japanese desserts such as warabimochi (わらび餅), I can’t wait to try them out with this unique flavor of the syrup and to experiment with it in all my possible foodie creations:)

So, if you're looking to add a touch of Japanese elegance to your tea adventures, I highly recommend giving Mikinohara's matcha syrup a try. It's definitely a delicious treat that will transport your taste buds to the beautiful, massive tea fields of Shizuoka Prefecture with every sip or bite.

Here I am sharing a link to the official website of Makinohara City where they introduce their local tea producers and tea product selling stores. Make sure you check them out and give a support if interested↓

https://www.city.makinohara.shizuoka.jp/site/tea/8939.html

Cheers to embracing more flavors of Japan and savoring every moment of the ongoing journey!

This post is supported by Makinohara City, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.