Japan Distilled Liquor Store Nacht und Nevel: Report from a bar in Sapporo! How to Use Cuzen Matcha. - Part 2 -

Freshly ground matcha is the best hospitality! So, this month, we will talk about matcha machines that allow you to enjoy freshly ground matcha. In the second part of this month's article, we will introduce an example of how it is used in a bar.

writer：Ryoko Kuraishi

As "SAMURAI Spirits," a owner of "Nacht und Nevel", Mr.Mikami places importance on Japanese spirits and the Japanese spirit.

He introduced it because it was unique as an experience.

Last October, a bar specializing in Japanese spirits, "Japanese Distilled Spirits Store Nacht und Nevel," opened in Susukino, Sapporo.

The concept is "SAMURAI Spirits". The back bar features whiskeys, gins, and rums from all over Japan, and the owner, Junpei Mikami, dressed in a stylish kimono, serves cocktails in an interior richly decorated with Japanese paper.

Mikami likes to incorporate new gears, tools, and techniques that are not common among others. He first became aware of Cuzen Matcha through an interview with Eijiro Tsukada that he found in a business magazine.

"I had never heard of a matcha espresso machine, and I thought it was very catchy that you could make fresh matcha right in front of the customer.

The design of the machine, which is reminiscent of the round windows of a tea room, and of course the story of preserving the culture associated with tea, such as tea farmers and tea fields, fits our concept.

We felt that we could offer a new bar experience and immediately decided to install it."

When an order is placed for a drink using matcha green tea, the machine is moved right in front of the guest's eyes so that he or she can watch the matcha being prepared. This is killer content, not only in terms of the taste of the drink, but also in terms of a new experience.

To begin with, Sapporo has a unique matcha culture, with many matcha specialty stores and cafes offering matcha drinks and sweets.

When the machine was actually installed, the response was even greater than expected.

When we tell people that we have a machine like this and that we prepare drinks using freshly ground matcha, most of them order it," he said.

The customers themselves enjoy the process of making powdered matcha from ground tea as part of the drink experience.

The operation is also excellent because we can prepare the glasses and ice while the machine is making the matcha.

It is also good that the machine uses the whole tea leaves, so there is no dregs and almost no need for maintenance.

Matcha green tea cocktails offered by "Japanese Distilled Liquor Store Nacht und Nevel". On the left is the "ZEN TONIC. The key is to use Ninja Ice to show the beautiful layers. On the right is a popular non-alcoholic cocktail, the "Kurogoma Kuromitsu Matcha Latte.

The "ZEN TONIC" is a gin and tonic made with Japanese craft gin and a float of matcha green tea to create beautiful layers.

Other non-alcoholic drinks include the "Kurogoma Kuromitsu Matcha Latte" and the "Matcha Mojito," a mojito based on Okinawa's "Ie Rum SantaMaria Gold" with a float of matcha green tea. The "Matcha Latte Martini" combines Ibaraki's Japanese vodka, matcha green tea and Baileys.

You may wonder, "Matcha and rum? But it is a popular drink because it is richer and more satisfying than a regular mojito.

The brown sugar syrup acts as a bridge between the matcha and rum, creating a sense of unity.

The "Matcha Latte Martini" has the alcohol taste of a martini, but the matcha softens the taste. It's a short cocktail that is popular among women."

Fresh matcha powder accents the raw chocolate in Cuzen Matcha Raw Chocolate.

The fresh matcha has a lingering pleasant aftertaste that cut through the aroma.

When creating recipes, he is conscious of the timing when the unique aroma of fresh matcha wears off.

I think the heart of tea is to enjoy the aroma of the tea until the moment it wears off, and I think the interesting thing about matcha is that the lingering aroma and flavor fades away and does not linger too long.

In cocktails as well, we want to make the most of the lingering flavor that fades away, so we try to avoid using syrups or liqueurs with artificial flavors that would interfere with the lingering aroma.

He also uses the Cuzen Matcha as a mill to grind freshly ground matcha for sweets and food.

For example, Cuzen Matcha raw chocolate served with matcha powder on top, matcha affoguard, and fresh matcha tea in ochazuke (rice with green tea).

Cuzen Matcha" for commercial use to be released this fall.

Commercial machines will be available this fall!

If you've read this far and want to try Cuzen Matcha, we've got good news for you! Good news for all the bartenders out there who have been thinking, "I want to try Cuzen Matcha!

The professional-use machine that Mr. Tsukada and his team have been working on for some time is scheduled for simultaneous release in Japan and the U.S. this October.

The difference between this machine and conventional machines is that it has two tea canisters and can make two cups at the same time. The speed of serving is also increased. The machine has six levels of matcha thickness to choose from.

The most important point is the change in the specifications of the special cups. The Cuzen Matcha can also be used to pour spirits and other non-water beverages directly into the cup, but the dedicated cup now supports a minimum water volume of 30 cc per serving (60 cc for the previous machine).

Is this still cocktail compatible ......?

Yes, it is. For example, if you're making matcha gin with gin, an ounce seems to be easier to incorporate into your recipe."


The new version of the exclusive cup can also be used with conventional home-use machines, which are scheduled to go on sale this summer ahead of commercial machines.

We are planning to start selling the cups this summer ahead of the commercial machines. We hope that customers will try a wide range of recipes, including cocktails and mocktails.

We hope you will try the new drinking experience that matcha will bring!