Despite appearances, this treat from Patisserie Sadaharu Aoki is not a tiny green hamburger attached to a giant ball of moss. It's actually a matcha and adzuki duomo, a green tea-flavored (matcha) ball of creamy goodness containing a shell filled with sweet red bean paste (adzuki), with a miniature matcha macaron stuck on the side. It's one of the most incredible taste sensations I've ever experienced, a perfect blend of two sophisticated culinary traditions. The delicate, crispy textures, the creaminess, and the sweetness are all classically French, but the flavors are unquestionably Japanese—a melding of Aoki's Tokyo roots and his Paris influences. Sadaharu Aoki 35 Rue de Vaugirard, 75006, 6th Arrondissement, Paris, France (map) 01 45 44 48 90...
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The words fresh and instant don't normally go together, but Kyo no Matcha lets you make your own fresh, bottled green tea on the go. A twist of the air-tight cap releases high-grade matcha powder from Kyoto into the water. Give it a shake, and you've got your fresh serving of green tea on the spot—no chemical additives or preservatives. Other flavors include turmeric and aojiru (a kale-based health drink). Only available in Japan, but with the rise in health drinks, it might be coming Stateside in the near future. [via Trends in Japan]...
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Alright, green tea, we get it. You're full of feel-good antioxidants, cancer killers and heart disease busters. But must you claim superiority at everything? As part of their "Nature's Expressions" line, Crest has developed a minty blend containing green tea extract. The earthy, nutty flavors don't seem ideal for fresh breath. And remember when tea tattoeed teeth with plaque? What gives?...
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Slate's Jacob Weisberg breaks down the growing ubiquity of green tea: "In China and Japan, green tea is a hot drink usually served in a small ceramic cup. But to American commercial culture, green tea is yoga in a bottle—or in a can, candy bar, candle, lotion, soap, perfume, pill, or extract. Described as soothing and gentle, it sits paradoxically at the red-hot intersection of New Age health mania and industrial chemistry." As an example, Weisberg points out that if you're drinking the Tazo Green Tea Frappucino at Starbucks for any other reason other than taste like, say, your health, you're delusional—the venti size has a whopping 560 calories, and that's without whipped cream. [via Amy's Robot]...
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