Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog

Hello. This is a new correspondent, Hanes.
Did you know that honey can be collected in Ginza?
In fact, beekeeping is being carried out on the roof of the paper pulp hall as the "Ginza Bee Project".

For this reason, the Paper and Pulp Hall is organized by the Japan Honey Meister Association every year.
The "Honey Festa" is held with the aim of "spreading honey" and "more utilizing honey".
This time, I would like to introduce the honey that was particularly impressive than this festival I visited for the first time this year.



■Mine Snow Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.
Website: http://minenoyuki.com/

Here, we handled Mead (brewed sake made by fermenting honey).
Mead, who was said to be an "indead drink" (probably close to "Yomeishu") in ancient Celtic culture, drank for the first time while studying abroad.
I was impressed by the depth of history and the tradition of brewing technology, and I was impressed after returning to Japan.
I didn't know that it became a drink that is becoming popular in Japan now!


(Shooted in Wales, 2016)

Unlike European Mead, which is made by mixing herbs and spices.
I tasted several kinds such as Mead "Kaori" made only with yeast.
It is not too sweet and has an elegant finish and is not mixed with extra items.
The feature is that the flavor of honey is sufficiently enhanced.
The Mead made with such a unique method is partly called Japanese Mead.
It has been selected as one of the "10 Nippon Shokuhin Selections Selected by American Journalists" and seems to have been highly evaluated overseas.

And this time, I would like to pay attention to the "Mead & Wine" that can be purchased at a reasonable price.
Mead made from honey of Tochinohana, a specialty of the Aizu region,
It seems that it is a liquor made by blending 100% Niagara from Nagano Prefecture with the golden ratio!
Even in Mead, the brewing method, blending method, land pattern, etc.
Even overseas people can enjoy Japanese Mead with fresh feelings.



■Hanazono Bee Farm
Website: http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~hanazonoyoho/

Located near the Chichibu Mountains, this beekeeping farm is characterized by its commitment to bee-making.
They have a lot of rare kinds of honey.
canola flower, Yamakuri, Yamafuji, Soba, Bodhi tree, etc.
This time I sampled oranges and yamazakura honey.
Among them, I especially recommend yamazakura honey.



Taking advantage of the elevation difference unique to yamazakura, if the lower flowers fall, the upper flowers bloom.
It seems that honey is carefully collected over a month to bloom one after another.
However, they can only get a small amount because they are collected while still cold....
The worrisome taste is that the soft flavor of the cherry blossoms remains in your mouth.
It was a taste that can be said to be a honey unique to Japan.

■Takakura New Sangyo Blue Hills Honey Co., Ltd.
Website: http://www.takakura.co.jp/

Here it blooms only in Tasmania, where nectar can be harvested only after 100 years.
He handled honey collected from rare white flowers called leather wood.
This honey has the same bactericidal action as Manuka honey and seems to be good for beauty.
Since we started importing in the fall of last year, it is still rare.
It is now available in Japan!



However, it is said that the existence was already known in some parts more than 20 years ago....
The reason for this is because it was introduced in the manga "Oishinbo".
At that time, it was not available in Japan yet, so the author went to the site and went there.
It is said that he tasted this "phantom life honey".
It seems that it is currently sold at Isetan and cosmetics kitchens, so I would like to try it once.

■Nana honey
Website: http://nanahoney.com/

In the contest "Honey of the Year"*, which selects the highest award at the Taiwan Long-eye Honey Competition and the most delicious honey.
Taiwanese honey is popular in Japan, which won the Excellence Award in 2016 and the highest award in the overseas category in 2017.
(* This is the fourth time this year, and the results were announced on August 3 (Honey's Day). Click here for the results of this year!
The deep and rich honey made from 21 years of umeboshi is used.
If you drink it with hot water, you will get rid of your cold.
In addition, I was also worried about "Biyakuzen Honey" containing figs, dried plums, nutme, dragon eye meat, etc.!



"Honey Festa" where honey with a focus on this way gathered together....
Have you already had any honey?
In Part 2, we will introduce some Asian honey that is historically interesting.

Continue

※This article has been approved by the person in charge of the Japan Honey Meister Association and each booth.