The second collaboration is Kyoto Uji matcha ice cream. In fact, before the collaboration between JR East and JR Tokai was discussed, matcha was mentioned in the selection of flavors to follow “Caramel Almond Praline” at JR Tokai Passengers at the time. There were also comments from pursers who wanted a flavor along the Tokaido Shinkansen line, regret that the matcha ice cream previously sold had been discontinued, and the situation with the return of foreign customers. Indeed, matcha ice cream is an item that is easily recognizable and evokes a sense of “Japan. One interesting topic that came up at the selection meeting was the impact of the termination of in-train sales. Currently, the Tokaido Shinkansen offers a mobile ordering service only in the Green Car. This change in the service system has led to an increase in the average age of passengers who use the in-train service. This and the fact that matcha green tea is popular not only for ice cream but also for other green tea sweets among women, seem to have been the reasons for introducing matcha as a new flavor. On the other hand, parents and their children tend to go for the safe (?) flavor. On the other hand, the standard vanilla ice cream tends to be served more often with parents and children. However, this is a good way to recommend a limited-edition product, saying, “In addition to vanilla ice cream, we also have this.
Matcha from Nishio and Kyoto Uji Matcha In fact, matcha ice cream produced by Sujata Meiraku has appeared on Shinkansen trains in the past. This time, however, the difference is that the matcha is from Uji, Kyoto. The difference is that this time, the matcha is from Uji, Kyoto. The same matcha, but different. On December 6, 2023, a prototype of the Kyoto-Uji Matcha ice cream was brought to the selection meeting held by JRESC and JR-PLUS. In addition, standard vanilla and existing matcha ice cream were also brought to the meeting to compare them with each other and to see how well they matched with tea and coffee. In fact, “matcha” is not the same for everyone. To complicate matters further, “Uji matcha from Kyoto Prefecture” and “Uji matcha” are also different. The difference is as follows. Kyoto-produced Uji Matcha: Matcha made from only tea leaves produced in Kyoto Prefecture, which are crushed and ground to a fine powder.
Uji matcha: Tea leaves produced in Kyoto, Nara, Shiga, and Mie prefectures are processed in Kyoto by a supplier in Kyoto using a method originating from the Uji region. The Nishio Matcha ice cream was relatively lighter and lighter in taste, while the Kyoto Uji Matcha ice cream was lighter and lighter. On the other hand, the Kyoto-Uji matcha ice cream was creamier and had a more “tea-like” impression, with the tea at the forefront. When we asked the Sujata Meiraku staff about this, they told us that they consciously emphasized the matcha flavor and that the difference in ingredients was partly responsible for the difference. He also said, “Kyoto Uji matcha has a more beautiful matcha color, as well as a deeper aroma and astringency. The first collaboration product, “Zunda Ice Cream,” received feedback from the sales floor, such as, “It was a novelty, and people were interested in it,” and “It was well received by people who like new things. However, along with novelty, it is also important to be widely accepted, and matcha is an obvious choice. The new flavor is a unique “Kyoto Uji Matcha” flavor.
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