Clover Tan
When deciding on my challenge, I used to be impressed to mix Japanese tea with Christmas desserts, a pairing not typically related to the vacation season. I assumed this distinctive twist may add to the festive vibe and supply a contemporary option to benefit from the vacation spirit. I’ve at all times believed that style has the facility to evoke reminiscences and assist us relive particular moments. By mixing the comforting flavours of Christmas with the fragile notes of Japanese tea, I hope to create one thing that warms each the guts and the senses.
To make this challenge much more significant, I selected to bake conventional Christmas desserts from the house international locations of our great assistant managers at Obubu. Since they’ll be spending a 12 months away from their households, I wished to convey them a style of house by these festive treats. My hope is that the acquainted flavours and aromas will remind them of cherished vacation reminiscences and make this Christmas really feel a bit hotter, even whereas they’re removed from house. It’s a small option to share the spirit of the season and present appreciation for all they do.
I requested every of them their favorite Christmas dessert from house and began crafting concepts on flavours and tea pairings. After some discussions with the assistant managers and my analysis on-line, I settled on the next 4 varieties of Christmas desserts and the tea pairings. For this baking challenge, I’ve largely used recipes discovered on-line and made delicate changes to incorporate Obubu cooking tea powders.
Latvian Pepper Cookies with Houjicha
Latvian pepper cookies, or Piparkūkas, are a conventional vacation deal with recognized for his or her mix of heat spices like cinnamon, cloves, cardamon and black pepper. I assumed the nice and cozy and comforting flavors of the cookies will likely be an ideal match with the roasted and nutty notes of our Houjicha Powder. These warmly spiced cookies holds cherished reminiscences for Katrina, our latest assistant supervisor from Latvia.
“Generally, we make it collectively within the household or with a gaggle of associates and have quite a lot of enjoyable!” Katrina chirped as she reminisce these reminiscences. She then joined me in rolling the cookie dough and reducing them with these humorous cookie cutters.
When the cookies have been baked and cooled, she become a cookie monster and began wolfing down a couple of. I then needed to conceal them away in an effort to put it aside for the photoshoot. But it surely was actually enjoyable seeing her laughing like a bit lady whereas asking for extra. “The flavour is de facto genuine and the houjicha ones style nice too!” she chirped once more.
Spanish Flan with Genmaicha
Spanish flan is a traditional dessert celebrated for its creamy, clean texture and wealthy caramel taste. Made with easy components like eggs, milk, and sugar, the flan is a timeless favourite to be loved. For that, I’ve chosen to make use of Genmaicha Powder on this dessert to stability the fragile sweetness of the flan and the tea’s mild, earthy character.
Sarah McDaniel, or Mac (as we affectionately calls her) is from Arizona in USA. She shares with me her childhood reminiscences of visiting her grandparents and having fun with homecooked Spanish meals. Amongst all, a favourite that she picked, is the Flan. “That is aamazzinggg…! It appears to be like excellent!” exclaimed Mac (who’s at all times beneficiant together with her compliments) when she noticed the flan that I’ve efficiently dished out from their ramekins. “It actually does style like house..” she mentioned after making an attempt the unique taste. I believe the Genmaicha flavored flan additionally stood out because the toasty undertones of the tea offered a balanced and refreshing accompaniment to the creamy dessert.
Italian Panpepato with Wakoucha
Panpepato, that means “peppered bread” is a conventional spiced cake originating from central Italy, significantly standard in the course of the vacation season. Made with a mixture of nuts, dried fruits, cocoa, and warming spices, it gives a wealthy and dense taste profile which Marcello describes as “大人っぽい” (otona poi) or adult-like. He continued to share with me concerning the dessert and likewise contributed his secret recipe from house. However after all, I didn’t observe it totally as I wished to experiment mixing within the candy rounded flavors of Wakoucha Powder.
After 1 hour of baking, 2 days of drying and three layers of chocolate glaze, my first Panpepato was made. It resembled a rock.
Me: “Is it imagined to be this difficult?” *knocking on it*
Marcello: “Sure, it’s!”
Okay, let’s belief the true Italian, who can also be an avid foodie and aspiring cook dinner, I assumed. Whereas the making of this dessert was comparatively easy, the toughest (actually) half was reducing them into skinny slices, similar to biscotti. Fortunately for me, Marcello took over the job of slicing whereas I shared the fruity spiced cake slices with different group members at Obubu.
I may actually style the Wakoucha! Maybe, I added an excessive amount of! Oops.. however the slight bittersweetness of the Wakoucha appears to mix properly with that of the darkish chocolate. I may completely think about having it as a tea time snack along with a cup of Tsugumi Kukicha or Darkish Roast Houjicha (in my rocking chair with a traditional learn).
Bûche de Noël with Wakoucha whipped cream and Chestnuts
Bûche de Noël, or Yuletide Log, is a traditional French dessert historically served in the course of the Christmas season. This sponge cake is rolled to resemble a log, crammed with cream, and mostly adorned with chocolate frosting and powdered sugar that appears like “snow”. Alix, who’s from the North of France went with Bûche de Noël straight away when being requested of a French Christmas dessert. She had zero hesitation. It clearly reveals how this dessert is synonymous to Christmas for the French.
For this recipe, I solely added a delicate quantity of Wakoucha Powder to the whipped cream and go away the opposite elements of the cake as it’s. “Generally, much less is extra.“ I assumed. It isn’t at all times obligatory to face out and be the spotlight. Very like the viola or double bass in an orchestra, that are accompaniment greater than the primary melody. It is usually about permitting them to work in concord and stability fairly than overpowering each other. This christmas cake proves to be a crowd pleaser with the quantity of compliments from everybody who tried it. Merci!
When working with taste pairing and mixing, stability is essential. Similar to working with individuals. To every has their very own traits and imperfections, the stability of various parts in sufficient quantity is important. Generally, flavors mix in completely as desired, however different instances, it could require changes and compromise to realize a greater concord of style. Regardless, the method of making is at all times a journey to be loved. I need to proceed experiment baking with tea, utilizing senchas and free tea leaf sooner or later.
It was actually a pleasure to see the lit-up faces of individuals after they really loved and appreciated the sweets I’ve created, particularly the assistant managers (Katrina, Mac, Marcello and Alix) who obtained a style that reminded them of house. Thanks for sharing your tales with me! It additionally meant quite a bit to me that they have been capable of really feel pleasure merely with these treats.
Thanks a lot.
For the easy pleasure I had, and I want for everybody.
Merry Christmas!
Clover
