What is your Felicità?

OMG! My Felicità would be there listening to this in 🇷🇺 with my family. 

Such an upbeat song which I can’t sing coz I can only say  penne all'Arrabbiata and grazie. Need to complain why was I rostered only 2 FCO flights? 

Skin problem and Kiehl’s

Noticed che-che’s has a terrible breakout since the last few weeks, which is rare. Told her to find a salon and go facial. Talked but she didn’t do anything, so it means her mother has to do it right? 

Facial services

Now the question is where? Bring her back to my beautician which I haven’t gone back since before covid? Other salons? Where? And I really hate those hard selling packages. Which is why I haven’t been back to my beautician coz they keep wanting to sell products if not new packages. Then I remembered Kiehl’s has a (new?) facial service in Singapore. Not sure when they had that in SIN but I was surprised when I came across a pamphlet when I was in NYC and thought it’ll be nice if we have it here. It’s not easy to make appointment with them, a lot of days even weekdays are fully booked. Finally managed to book her appointment at the end of September. I should book one for myself for another day to try it out. At least if Kiehl’s wanted to hard selling any products, we might have them. 

Possible cause(s)

I believe she is under a lot of stress at work, yet during today’s lunch I saw her scratching her arms and asked if it’s allergic reaction itchy. This girl is mono-syllabic and hardly answers us unless it’s something that she’s interested in, answered me “dunno”. Dr Teo thinks it could also be (1) dry skin coz she never puts any moisturiser + sleeping in aircon room. (2) never use her Cetaphil. She has been using the normal body wash. Lil’ one chipped in “but it’s goat milk” thinking it’s pure. I don’t study the ingredients of both Cetaphil and goat milk but I’m sure there’ll be some ingredients that people with sensitive skin shouldn’t be touching. The price difference tells it all right? Cetaphil is so expensive, Aveda and Kiehl’s is so expensive. I will have to monitor her, worst come to worst bring her back to Dr Chu. 

Honestly I don’t baby the two of them to make sure they follow the facial cleansing regime. Please lah! 23 and 19 still expect me to nag and pull them into the toilet and slap the lotion on them meh? Past few days I notice she was slapping masque almost on a daily basis. But somehow the a-little-smart-me suspected that she shouldn’t be using the Rare Earth Deep Pore mask at this time, I couldn’t tell her coz she wouldn’t believe me and I may be wrong. Anyway, decided that since she’s working today we should drop by Kiehl’s in TMall to check which products to use.

@ Kiehl’s 

Haven’t been shopping in Kiehl’s since a year ago. Officially downgraded to Ruby 😂. I might be downgraded again after Sep 2025? 🤣

It must be a blessing in disguise, I actually have a $20 voucher that will expire on 1st Sep. Just nice I can use it. 

Brought items to recycle. They do accept bottles and containers of items that is only available in the US as well. Yah! I just brought that hugeass bottle of Calendula facial cleanser. 

Recommended some items which we don’t have and to use what I have at home. And 我猜对咯, she shouldn’t use that mask. 

Took pic at home on these products I have at home related to acne usage

Bought 4 items 

Have 4 travel size to choose from 

How is it I’ve never seen the soft cream before? I use the rich & nourishing cream for my going to age anytime soon skin.  

Needed to know the difference between the two

The samples. We have lots at home. lol 

Since on the topic on Kiehl’s, decided to dig up whatever I have posted on FB before. All for my memory sake. 

I want to go back to

NGO!!!!! 

I want to go back to do my trail. I want to go back to Toyama. Eat the yummy pork katsu.  I want to go to another 2 trails. I want to make sure I eat the Yamachan chicken fresh, at the restaurant! I want to do rubbish shopping for bath salts and soak myself every evening. TV is boring there but it’s ok I can and I hope I can be not-easily-distracted and get some iMovies done. 

I want to get out of the country! 

Ok, continue daydreaming. 

Taking turns to ✈️

So nice that they can take turns to travel while I’m stuck here. So envious. 

Changed a common phrase to this : When one luggage zipper closes another opens 🤣. Hubby just got back few days ago and in few days time che-che is going for another short holiday alone. She did ask me along lah! Just for certain reasons I decided not to go tho my heart is very itching to go.  

Hubby left his luggage on the BS floor since he got back, and I had to tidy it up today. Asked che-che which luggage she’s bringing, so I can bring it down and then put someone’s luggage into hubby’s luggage and store in the small space BS. Note —> it’s all their luggages. I don’t have any 😭.

After I did the measurements to make sure it’s within the size limit. Daddy asked her when he overheard our conversation the luggage she is bringing "how long are you going?" 😂 and continued with “I only carry a small bag when I went to 🇨🇳.” Che-che replied in cheekiness “if I go China I will also bring a small bag but if I’m going to 🇯🇵 it’s a different thing.” 

#bringsuchabigluggage#

Luggage out in yard area until she’s ready to pack 

This luggage is not hers, I bought it to replace the shared luggage for the 3 females when we go for family holidays. Then she claims it’s hers coz I (kindly) put her name tag on it when I let her use it to bring it to the States.

In the meantime.. I’m stuck here together with lil' one who can't travel 😥

Anyway, I’m still struggling to empty the phone storage space. Haven’t had time to do any iMovies of recent trip except one 20mins hiking. It’ll be a struggle for storage space if I make a trip. 

Not related to the post but tagging it in here. 

For own future reference - this is Delsey Freestyle - XL 82cm (around 32”)

Key Dimensions and Specifications

• Height: 82 cm (32 inches)
• Width: 55 cm (22 inches)
• Depth: 34 cm (unexpanded), expanding to 37 cm (13-14 inches)
• Capacity: Up to 143 liters
• Weight: Approximately 5.3-5.6 kg

🐣 Egg-cellent Day! 🐣

Coz che-che likes that onigiri in Japan so I’m trying to see if I can do that at home. Wish me luck! 

Procrastinated over curing the egg yolks, coz you know gotta make sure the day I cure the egg yolks we will have to eat the egg whites. 

Decided to do it today. Tried a new marinade recipe, tweaked along the way. I feel it’s still saltish so … have to see what che-che says. I’m going to make sure she eats them by tomorrow, all 5 egg yolks 😂, I’m not going to cure for more than 24hrs. I’ll probably tweak the recipe again or …… maybe …..

Finished curing her eggs at 1.50pm 

I have a blog post about Japanese soy sauce, still in the Drafts folder 🤭. (At least I didn’t lose that post, unlike the lengthy research like siao on soba is totally lost!! ARGH!) Always so difficult thinking what soy sauce to buy. The last time I bought one in Meidi-ya, it was so damn saltish! That’s why I resorted to using our low sodium soy sauce.

Che-che asked me last week if I wanted any soy sauce from Japan, she’s going to a place where they’re famous for soy sauce. Hmm…. Never get a chance to taste, how to buy? Anyway, I might look into it and see how. 

Saw a recipe. Recipe from Cook with Dana I can try next time? 

When I was looking for the recipe, I came across a few pages and this caught my attention from a manga Side Dish Which Matches Rice Well (ごはんのおとも) 

Seems like an interesting book, there’s two infact, maybe I can ask che-che to help me buy when she’s in Tsutaya or Kinokuniya?? 

 As I was storing che-che’s egg yolks in the fridge, I noticed the container that was filled with that little mouse’s eggs is empty. 

Then it’s on to boiling hard boiled eggs for lil’ one at 3+.

Two girls with different preferences. Sigh….. actually che-che likes onsen eggs but lil’ one insists on hard boiled eggs coz she hates egg yolks.

Marinade for lil’ one’s eggs is different. I didn’t prepare new sauce, will always re-use the same one for the second time before junking them away and preparing new ones. 

~ ~ DINNER ~ ~

Need to cook something with the egg whites from 5 eggs 

Wanted to do the 水蒸蛋 but we didn’t have any chicken stock 🤣. In the end it’s a dashi steamed egg with Chinese style mince pork

It’s white really! The lighting in dining area is warm 🤭

Used this recipe to make the meat marinade, omitted the shaoxing wine and everything else were not the exact measurements but eyeball measurements

Not sure if solely egg white was the reason why the first steaming for 15 mins resulted in a watery part in the middle of the metal plate. I changed the cellophane wrap and wrapped up entirely, poking just 2 holes. Normally I leave a small opening whenever I steam chawanmushi in Ms Thermie. After that it was better. However it could also be the recipe. Normally when I prepare chawanmushi, it’s 1 egg to about 110ml of dashi stock. It’s a wrong assumption on my part as I don’t weigh the eggs. Based on what’s on the recommended ratio it’s suppose to be : 

Egg : liquid

1 : 2.5

For this dish it was a “I pray this works” cooking. My poor family! 

It makes no sense for 475g dashi. 

Initially I added only 180g dashi but after my cock-eyed eyeball felt that it’s too little so added another 80g. On hindsight, I should have only added 60g. Then again, how often do I weigh the eggs? The next time I cook this dish will use my agar-ration again. 

Links to help in my future cooking of 水蒸蛋 ：

1) One Happy Bite

2) The Woks of Lifetime 

Streamer from Mio

Last Thursday (21st) Mio sent me a message informing me that she has left my number as a form of contact for the postal services, and that she has sent a small package to che-che. 

Fast forward 5 days later, we received the parcel 🥳

So sweet of her to share 1 of the 3 streamers she picked up from the concert. She even made a deliberate trip to the city [which I found out later she had a fall otw there. Feel more paiseh she went thru so much.] to buy a yellow container (Kento’s colour) to put the streamer in. 

Needless to say, che-che was happy for this momento. Can’t go to the concert but she received something from the concert. Even though I teased and joked that “Aunty M also collects streamers from concerts just like you did.” Although I don’t like seeing her spending money on buying the CDs, cards from Family Club Store, rubbish from the secondhand shops I hope that one day she gets the chance to attend their concert. 

Chinese fruits

Hubby got back from China and bought fruits home. At least he buys home healthy snacks unlike me 🤭😂

We tried the peach on 24th Aug for the second time, he regretted not buying back a whole box 🤣. 

When hubby showed me, I told him this fruit looked like the yucky South African physalis. Told hubby I didn’t like it last time coz it tasted yucky. Tried this today. Ay…. this is actually a little sweet, not that bad. Are they the same fruit?

Had to find out the name, it’s Peruvian groundcherry or cape gooseberry coz last time I remember it was physalis (?)

Of course need to check on the goodness of these small berries  

Playing with Matcha

8th Aug (Fri)

The girls WFH today, che-che's friends came over to hang out they also WFH but they work from my home 😂. I'm WIAH (work-is-at-home 😆) today and everyday

The matcha expert is here! One of che-che's friend is a matcha connoisseur is here 😄 , so l brought down whatever matcha powder we have and let them play. (ultimately only used the Uji matcha)

The girls all gathered in the small kitchen, che-che outside at dining area looking in. Now che-che's ‘playdate' is UPPed leveled - from the I can bluff kids to bake to this matcha noisy ceremony (no Zen, just noisy 😆)

Wah...师父！师父有功夫。

Coz someone broke my first bowl so I had to Taobao this. I saw a few nice designed bowls in Japan but no way am I going to spend so much $$ again to have it broken into pieces by careless family members. If this breaks again, I'll just use my plastic bowls to whisk my matcha.

师父 whisking got technique k, got strength. 

I have no strength 😂

And then they asked for milk. Haha! I totally forgot about the milk coz I normally drink my matcha plain 🤭

Nevermind, l used the Nepresso latte pods and dispense the latte into the cup. Coz I was only left with 2 latte pods, told JL if she needs more then we use the Japanese condensed milk I have. Haha!

Abit of mixing styles here and there. 🤣 nope didn’t use condensed milk at all, it will alter the taste.

Iced matcha latte

Second cup into this cup. Not nice presentation but who cares

This is from a packed matcha mix with gold flakes. Drink already can huat huat. But it’s sweet!! 甜甜发发！

What I have at home : (1) from Uji (2) from NGO (3) another one also from Uji but it’s already opened and not refrigerated so I didn’t bring out that powder. Brought out some other matcha dunno what from our cabinet, 反正买了就是要喝、let the girls try if they want. 

(1) Bought this in Uji. It comes with a small cute spoon and a container - supposedly for those trying to make matcha on the go without the use of chawan and chasen. 

Sentou no Mukashi by Masuda Chaho

This is not a bitter matcha so it’s really suitable for koicha and usucha (my preference for neat matcha). I had years ago mistakenly used the lousy matcha powder meant for cooking/baking to make usucha before and it was B.I.T.T.E.R.T.O.T.H.E.M.A.X. I’m not an expert in identifying what is good or not so good matcha powder, so I only rely on what my taste buds agree. And strangely I should have the exposure to matcha when I’m in my early 20s in SQ since I fly to Japan often right? But no…… aunty only wanted to chiong sights on first trip subsequent trips are shopping for rubbish snacks and cute things. I always spend more than the flight allowance🤭. I’m only paying attention to this in recent years only. 

ps. Wait! So is this Sentou no mukashi or Izumihigashi no mukashi? Coz 泉 is いずみ 🤔

Green tea appreciation talks about the umami. What exactly is umami? 

WHAT IS UMAMI? 

Someone described umami as seaweed, and remarked that the highest grades typically have the most umami. 

Umami is the 5th taste, derived from increased levels of L-theanine and other amino acids in the tea leaves, a result of the shading process that the tea bushes undergo before harvesting.

(2) Bought this in Dec 24 in NGO. Shop name : (有）嘉木園 Ocha no Kakien Amakoubou [https://amakoubou.com/]

Honestly I didn’t know this is a famous shop with many positive reviews, I was drawn into the shop coz the roasted tea made us walk into that direction 😂. Che-che wanted to buy ice-cream and uncle, the 3rd generation owner, wave to me into the shop. He spoke to me in relatively understandable English. 

They have different grades, I didn’t choose the most expensive coz I’m not an expert in matcha, will be wasting $$ for someone who can’t tell any tea apart 

50g for a 上別儀 (jobetsugi) which is good for making lattes and I suppose for my most preferred usucha. I dunno I didn’t really ask ojisan 

screenshot text from : https://teaologists.co.uk/

Had wanted to drop by to see my ojisan 🤣 during my June trip and bring Singapore cookies for him but I didn’t have time as my itinerary is packed. Maybe I should plan one more trip this year again. Keke! And then same time buy my matcha. Che-che’s going to Japan again in Sep, so I may ask her to get matcha for me. (Lucky gal! Second time or maybe third to Japan for her this year coz we were still in Japan in January 😂.)

***** STOP! I NEED SOME INFO *****

< Let’s talk about matcha first >

I just drink and never think about what and simi green tea, I just buy 😂. I used to think that only Uji produces good green tea until last year when I bought my (2) in Nagoya did I know there’s green tea in Aichi Prefecture, Nishio, as well. 

Took the following pics from Hester - Lemon. And it helps me coz I’m more of a pictorial learner. 

The matchas I buy since I knew about matchas is either culinary or ceremonial. Coz aunty can’t afford premium. 

Hmm…still don’t get about the umami. But when I asked che-che if she can taste the difference between the 2, she told me Nishio is sweeter (huh? or did I accidentally put in more sugar?) and can get more green tea 🍃taste. I can’t taste the difference 😂 I should go and pluck the leaves and eat. Do you know that longjing tea 龙井茶 is green tea? No wonder amongst all the Chinese tea, I always only liked longjing tea. 

More about different region teas.

The text below are extracted from :https://www.foratravel.com/the-journal/where-to-drink-matcha-in-japan-our-top-six-picks

KAGOSHIMA 

Kagoshima is fast becoming a powerhouse of matcha production. With its volcanic soil, warm climate, and wide-open tea fields, it’s ideal for large-scale, high-quality cultivation. While Kagoshima doesn’t have the centuries-old tea legacy of Uji, it’s now the second-largest tea-growing region in Japan—and a serious competito in the matcha game.

Kagoshima matcha is often a little more vegetal and less sweet than Uji’s, making it great for those who like a slightly more robust, grassy flavour. Many tea farms here are also pioneering organic and sustainable practices.

SHIZUOKA 

Shizuoka is Japan’s largest tea-producing region overall. While it’s more famous for sencha, a growing number of producers here are turning their attention to matcha—and doing it well.

Shizuoka matcha is often characterized by a light, clean profile with gentle sweetness and grassy notes. You’ll find everything from traditional tea experiences in the countryside to modern cafés in Shizuoka City that serve matcha lattes, soft-serve, and more.

Screenshot from the same web page

screenshot from : naokimatcha.com

Screenshot from papillon.skin Instagram who was giving a review of the different matchas

Tip from foratravel.com 

Taste differs between shincha and matcha

So while google searching for something , I’m led to discover new things 🫢. 

This is what I have 

When I was looking for a picture, I came across a similar bottle but the gold words is different. This bottle reads 初昔 (Hatsu mukashi), whereas mine read 泉東の昔(Sentou no mukashi)

WHAT IS MUKASHI 昔？

When you key in 昔 and you get the definition. And if you’re led to my Aunty lor-soh blog by accident - GOOD LUCK TO YOU and WELCOME 🤣. As what everybody has the same answer 88th night and 20th day, they all just copy and paste. So I also copy and paste the template. Haha! Still わかりません. I probably need to read the general thing about tea cultivation. 

“ In ancient Japan, the best day to harvest tea leaves for premium matcha was the 20th day of the third lunar month, roughly 20 days before the Hachijuhachiya (八十八夜), or the 88th night from the start of spring, considered the ideal time for tea picking in Kyoto (before climate change). A “20 day” period was written as 廿日 (hatsuka) in old Japanese, where the character 廿 represents “twenty” (a combination of two 十, meaning “ten”). Over time, Mukashi (昔) became a shorthand for this hatsuka harvest, symbolizing the pinnacle of matcha quality due to the tender, flavorful leaves picked during this period.

For example, Hatsu Mukashi (初昔) refers to matcha made from leaves harvested in the 20 days leading up to the 88th night, ensuring exceptional richness and depth suited for koicha. Leaves picked in the 20 days following this period might be called Ato Mukashi (後昔), though this term is less commonly used. Thus, Mukashi is a hallmark of matcha crafted with precision and care, reserved for the most refined tea ceremonies. “ 

🤨💭HOW MANY MUKASHI 昔　ARE THERE? What’s the difference? 

* please note that they are not ranked in any particular order. I only typed when I found out any new __の昔

1) Hatsu mukashi 初昔 

2) Sentou no mukashi 泉東の昔

3) Tsurube no Mukashi 釣瓶の昔

4) Unmon no mukashi 雲門お昔 - Chinese poet? Huh? click here

5) Hou ei no mukashi  豊栄の昔

6) Hakuju no mukashi　　栢樹の昔

7) Chino mukashi 千代昔

8) Yamashiro no mukashi 山城の昔

9) Bandai no mukashi 万代の昔

10) Shikibu no mukashi 式部の昔

11) Yutaka mukashi 豊昔

12)  Kohata no mukashi 許波多の昔

13) Ken to no mukashi 建都の昔 - is this the best? Highest quality in both colour and flavour as what is stated. And the brand I saw ¥9180 for 40g. Gasp! 

Photos taken from : https://genmai-cha.jp/en/tea-classification-kinds-en/

If the 昔　confusion is not making me dizzy, I read there’s 白. Argh! I give up! Already no more brain cells left, I’m going to burn out my remaining brain cells 

What does 昔 and 白 mean? Click HERE

Other links : 

Why ceremonial grades is meaningless

***** END OF RESEARCH *****

15th Aug (Fri) 

My day, with both girls working from home, was even busier as I had to cook both lunch and dinner for them. Lunch was ramen  bought home from trip, but both had difference preference. Sigh…. Added with the fact that it was shitty day for me, lots of worries frustrations and thoughts running in my mind I NEEDED SOMETHING TO DISTRACT MYSELF. I needed a quiet moment.静かにしたいです。I brought out my tripod, then it reminded of my solo trip to Japan where I did the same thing and filmed myself eating twice or was it thrice (?) and did some filming of me walking here and there - maybe this warrants another solo trip 🤣. 

Left handed 😅

2nd cup for che-che

Took some time to edit a video. Can’t embed it so here’s the link. I’ve spent 40 mins just doing some lousy filming, re-checking, editing for what usually takes me lesser than that to make a cup of matcha. 

16th Aug (Sat)

I usually don't like to open a new packaging until l finish one. However my curiosity made me open a second pack today.

Both are from different regions. After sifting the powder, I notice the slight difference in colour. Slight difference in taste. I'm not an expert. Oh well... should I open the other packet 😜?

Don't think I will keep my chasen and bowl (so troublesome gotta take out few items to reach for the items), until we finish that huge tetrapak of fresh milk. My poor stomach. Wonder why I listened to che-che when I wanted a small pack but she said to buy a big pack. I only drink matcha plain.

Matcha #1 - from Uji

Matcha #2 - from Nagoya

17th Aug (Sun)

Made a cup for che-che

When you're desperately trying to finish that milk. 🤣

Does drinking these 3 days in a row make me to like latte? Nope. I still want to stick to my simple plain matcha.

Transferred my glass into this Totoro cup and plate just for that aesthetic look. I don’t do this all the time, thank goodness just coz I’m not a CLICK HERE

19th Aug (Tue)

@ 8.01pm - after dinner, after washing some crockeries, still haven’t washed Ms Thermie, kitchen is not that tidy but I feel so down… I’ve been feeling down for the past few days. So it’s matcha to the rescue again. Not the drinking part yet but the whisking, and I chose to whisk manually instead of using the electric frother just so by the whisking my mind is distracted, not having any wild thoughts for the time being. I read from somewhere that Zen Buddhists says there’s some calming effect of matcha as we need the concentration to whisk the tea properly, smell and dunno what else. Matcha whisking is not the same as la kopi or stir milo in a cup, it needs some kind of ??? I don’t know what’s the word to use. Certainly I still don’t have the skill to make a nice microfoam. Since I’ve been feeling shitty for the longest time, maybe I can consider to work in a matcha shop. Stand there and whisk whisk whisk and earn money 😂. 

Second cup for che-che. Hmm....foam still don't look nice. So it has nothing to do with my standing position for my first video. Lousy means lousy. I need to 拜师 che-che's friend 😂

I keep talking about the froth or the microfoam. So how important is it to have a good microform aka whisking? Read this. Despite the number of times I’ve been whisking, my skills is bleh. 

23rd Aug (Sat)

Che-che asked for matcha latte so made a cup for her. No pics coz they look the same. 

24th Aug (Sun) 

I had to finish the last bit of the milk so used up the last two Nepresso pods and added the milk (cup on the right) coz we used up the milk the day che-che’s friends came over. 

Che-che asked for matcha latte again. See the difference in colour. Hers is vibrant green while mine is a dull yellow green. 

Then I went on in this crazy matcha drinkathon by deciding to make my usucha few hours later. Lil’ one asked me to add a little sugar but I refused, matcha has to be consumed neat to enjoy the (umami?) taste.

Does this foam looks ok? 

She wanted to try. But guess what? She finished everything after the first sip. 😂 I didn’t get to drink it and I was tired of making matcha for the day. 

And with that, I shall conclude my lengthy post on matchas. I will continue whisking and perfect my skills. Till then, Have a Happy Matchalicious Day!