Non-Alcoholic


April 11, 2016

Japanify: How to Make Matcha

by Yoko Kumano

The first time I learned how to make matcha was from my grandmother, Baba-chan, in Tokyo. I was in second grade when she first showed me how to make matcha. I quickly forgot about it when I moved back to California in fourth grade. Oddly enough, while I was listening to industrial music in my […]

November 12, 2015

Upcoming Event: Free Tasting with Q Drinks and Workhorse Bitters

by Umami Mart Staff

Bitters are great for cocktails, but did you know they make refreshing non-alcoholic drinks, too? This Saturday, November 14, we’re hosting a free tasting event with Workhorse and Q Drinks. Rob Easter, founder or Workhorse, and Meryll Cawn, brand ambassador of Q Drinks, will be on hand mixing delicious carbonated drinks made with Q Club, Tonic, […]

January 15, 2015

Event Recap: MUJI x Umami Mart

by Kayoko Akabori

When MUJI came to us last year to put on a collaborative event together, Yoko and I did not not hesitate to say YES. A leading retailer in Japan, MUJI has been around for decades, outfitting people’s homes, kitchens, wardrobes and backpacks full of understated, minimal, yet high-quality goods. We respect them greatly, and were […]

February 28, 2013

Japanify: Amazake (Sweet Sake)

by Yoko Kumano

Amazake literally translates to “sweet sake” which is deceiving considering it’s non-alcoholic. It’s sweet, milky and easy to digest, making it perfect for kids or adults with an upset stomach. Amazake is made by combining koji with cooked rice, which allows the rice to break down into simple sugars. This is the first step to […]

December 15, 2011

Japanify: Yuzu Ginger Tea

by Yoko Kumano

It’s that time of the year, when my well-windowed apartment gets really cold and I have to bring out multiple space heaters to supplement the un-strategically placed central heater that seems to whisper lukewarm puffs of air. Luckily, my Zojirushi water boiler and warmer just arrived in the mail and I will have a steady […]

July 21, 2011

Japanify: Kan-Kouhi Komparison (Can-Coffee Comparison)

by Yoko Kumano

Last week on Japanify, I proposed the idea of marrying two of my favorite things in life: Japanese food and Twin Peaks. A few hours after my post went up, Kayoko emailed me this post from Mental Floss, on a series of videos from 1993 that came very close to this vision. These videos were […]

April 22, 2010

How To Japanify: Preparing and Drinking Sencha

by Yoko Kumano

Every time I would go to someone’s house in Tokyo, they would likely offer me sencha before I even settled onto my zabuton or chair. Sencha is made by steaming green tea leaves, shaped into thin rolls, dried and then pan-fried or fired to lock-in the flavor. Pretty common in the U.S. as well, most […]

January 31, 2009

Ukon no Chikara

by Yoko Kumano

The marketing concept of drinking an ukon extract drink like Ukon no Chikara (rough translation: Tumeric’s Power) is to get over a wild night with fellow salarymen. The tagline on the bottle says “Let’s drink to everyday vitality!” (very ironic). I had one sitting on my desk at work for about 6 months, as a […]