[Miyagi] Branded rice with chewy texture “Date Masamu” debuts!

Branded rice has become a hot topic in recent years.

Aomori Prefecture's ``Seiten no Tairi'', which debuted in 2015, quickly rose to become a nationally loved brand.

In 2017, Miyagi Prefecture, a rice-producing prefecture, was determined not to lose, and in 2017, it announced the long-awaited "Date Masamu."

In this article, we will introduce the origin of Miyagi Prefecture's branded rice "Date Masamu" and report on its taste.

November 2017, "Date Masamu" pre-debut

November 7, 2017.

Sales of ``Date Masamu'' have started at rice stores, department stores, and some mass retailers in Miyagi Prefecture.

This is a prelude in Miyagi Prefecture to make a national debut as a branded rice sold at a high price.

A new variety, ``Date Masamu,'' was developed at the Furukawa Agricultural Experiment Station in northern Miyagi Prefecture.

Its chewy texture is something new that is not found in Miyagi Prefecture's representative varieties, ``Hitomebore'' and ``Sasanishiki.''
It is sticky and soft, but it has a characteristic of having little sticky odor.

The secret is the amylose content.
Starch, the main component of rice, is composed of amylose and amylopectin.

Amylose is a component of hardness, and amylopectin is a component of stickiness and softness.
This balance affects the taste of rice.

The amylose content of typical rice is 20%.
The amylose content of Hitomebore is also around that range.
On the other hand, the amylose content of "Date Masamu" is less than 1.50%.
Depending on the average temperature, it may drop below 10%.

Therefore, it is less hard and you can enjoy its sticky and chewy texture.

There is also data that shows that the taste of the rice (scored in five categories: appearance, aroma, taste, stickiness, hardness, and overall) immediately after cooking and after 4 hours of cooking is almost the same, and even after cooling, the rice's original sweetness and stickiness remain. You can taste it.

What is the flavor of “Date Masamu” that you are interested in?

Sorry I made you wait!

Now, let's report on the taste of Date Masamu!

please look! The shine of this freshly cooked rice!

As expected, this is the brand rice that Miyagi is proud of!
It seems like the deliciousness is overflowing from each grain!

First, let's take a bite.

delicious!

It's as sticky and soft as the rumors say, just like sticky rice!
However, it doesn't have the characteristic odor of mochi, so you can enjoy it with side dishes!

If you want to enjoy the charm of "Date Masamu", this is the way to eat it!

Yes, it's rice with egg!

Add eggs to freshly cooked rice and drizzle with soy sauce!
This is the best way to eat white rice!

By the way, the eggs are also from within the prefecture.
The soy sauce used for the soup stock is Kimito Pittanko, a soy sauce specifically made for egg-kake rice sold by Mori no Mebuki Tamagosha, located at the foot of Zao.

I enjoyed everything from Miyagi Prefecture!

When I ate it as egg-cooked rice, it was less sticky, but I was able to fully enjoy the texture of each grain of rice, which made it very delicious.

Everyone please try it!

How to cook delicious Masamu Date

Well, "Date Masamu" has been praised for being delicious, but in order to make it even more delicious, you need to think about how to cook it!

“Date Masamu” already has a soft texture.
If you get the water balance wrong, you may end up with a sticky mess!

So, here we will introduce how to cook "Date Masamu" so that you can enjoy it deliciously!

These are the delicious ways to cook "Date Masamu"!
Since you've bought delicious rice, you want to enjoy it in its best condition.
If you have purchased it, please give it a try!

The full-scale debut of "Date Masamu" will be in the fall of 2018.

If you live outside of the prefecture, please look forward to the fall when the products will be on sale!