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Branded rice has become a hot topic in recent years
Aomori Prefecture's "Aozora no Hekireki" debuted in 2015 and quickly rose to become a brand loved nationwide
Miyagi Prefecture, a rice-producing region, could not afford to lose out, and in 2017, it finally announced "Date Masayume."
In this article, we will introduce the origins of Miyagi Prefecture's brand rice, "Date Masayume," and report on its taste
November 2017, "Date Masayume" pre-debut
November 7, 2017
Date Masayume is now on sale at rice stores, department stores, and some mass retailers in Miyagi Prefecture
This is a preliminary battle in Miyagi Prefecture aimed at making its national debut as a brand of rice that will be sold at a high price range
"Date Masayume" is a new variety developed at the Furukawa Agricultural Experiment Station in northern Miyagi Prefecture
Its chewy texture is something new, not found in Miyagi Prefecture's representative varieties, "Hitomebore" or "Sasanishiki." It is sticky and soft, but has the characteristic of having little of the typical mochi smell.
The secret lies in its amylose content. Starch, the main component of rice, is composed of amylose and amylopectin.
Amylose is responsible for hardness, while amylopectin is responsible for stickiness and softness. The balance between these two components determines the taste of rice.
The amylose content of typical rice is around 20%. The amylose content of "Hitomebore" rice is also around that level. On the other hand, the amylose content of "Date Masayume" rice is surprisingly less than 15%, and can even drop below 10% depending on the average temperature.
This means that it is not too hard and has a chewy, sticky texture
Additionally, there is data that shows that the taste (scored based on five criteria: appearance, aroma, taste, stickiness, hardness, and overall) is almost the same immediately after cooking and four hours after cooking, so even after it has cooled, you can still enjoy the rice's natural sweetness and stickiness
Wondering what "Date Masayume" tastes like?
Sorry for the wait!
Now, let's report on the taste of Date Masayume!
Look at the shine of this freshly cooked rice!
As expected from a brand of rice that Miyagi, a renowned rice-producing region, boasts! Deliciousness seems to emanate from every single grain!
First, I'll try a bite
delicious!
Its stickiness and softness are just as impressive as the rumors say, almost like glutinous rice! However, it doesn't have the distinctive smell of mochi, so you can enjoy it with side dishes!
If you want to experience the true charm of Date Masayume, then this is the way to eat it!
Yes, it's rice with raw egg on top!
Put an egg on top of freshly cooked rice and pour dashi soy sauce over it! This is the ultimate way to eat white rice!
Incidentally, the eggs are also locally sourced. For the dashi soy sauce, we use "Kimi to Pittanko," a soy sauce specifically for egg-on-rice sold by Mori no Mebuki Tamagoya, located at the foot of Mount Zao.
Everything was made in Miyagi Prefecture and we had a great time!
When I ate it with egg on rice, it became less sticky, but I was able to fully enjoy the texture of each grain of rice, which made it very delicious
Please give it a try!
How to cook Date Masayume rice deliciously
Well, "Date Masayume" has been praised for being delicious, but to make it even more delicious, you need to think about how to cook it!
"Date Masayume" rice already has a soft texture. If you get the water balance wrong, it could end up mushy!
So, here we will introduce how to cook "Date Masayume" so that you can enjoy it deliciously!
Measure → : After accurately measuring with a measuring cup, rinse with water until the water runs clear.
measure the water, place the rice cooker on a flat surface and add water slightly less than the marked line. (For 2 cups of rice, aim for 1-2 mm less than the marked line.)
Soak and then Soak the rice in water for about 30 minutes to allow it to absorb plenty of water before cooking.
Steaming → Fluffing: After cooking, let the rice steam for 10-15 minutes, then fluff it well to release any excess moisture.
Eat it , see, it's delicious!
That's how to cook "Date Masayume" rice deliciously! Since you've gone to the trouble of buying such delicious rice, you'll want to enjoy it in its best condition. If you've purchased it, please give it a try!
"Date Masayume" will make its official debut in the fall of 2018
If you live outside the prefecture, please look forward to autumn when sales begin in earnest!
A balding writer who loves travel and laughter.
A nice guy who hides his thinning hair by shaving his head!
He travels north and south to bring smiles to Tohoku through his writing!
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