Ichigo Milk or Japanese Strawberry Milk is a timeless dessert and snack first popularized in Japan through the Showa period (circa 1960). Merely mash candy, contemporary strawberries in a bowl with a particular strawberry spoon and pour chilled milk on high. Really easy, so scrumptious!
As you understand, I create most of my recipes with inspiration from my mom’s cooking, reader requests, or eating by way of journey. Right now’s recipe is sort of uncommon, because it‘s the primary one impressed by cutlery—particular Japanese strawberry-shaped spoons, to be particular! When I discovered these spoons at my household house in Japan, I knew I needed to convey them again to the US and share them with you.
So, right here we’re! Right now’s put up is about this distinctive cutlery born in Japan with the bonus of a easy and nostalgic dessert recipe.
What’s a Strawberry Spoon?
The strawberry-shaped spoons are known as ichigo spoon (イチゴスプーン) and had been invented in 1960 (Showa 35) in Japan.
At the moment, strawberries had been trending in Japan. Imported strawberries had been fairly bitter, so folks mashed them with a teaspoon, sweetened them with sugar, and stirred in milk to make the tart berries extra palatable. Nevertheless, the rounded bowl of a teaspoon was not optimum for mashing this fruit. Therefore, the strawberry spoon was invented!
What makes it a strawberry spoon?
- Spork form: This particular utensil is definitely a spork, with quick tines on the tip that assist you spear and reduce the fruit.
- Flat backside: The underside of the spoon bowl is flat, making it simpler to press and smash the strawberries.
- “Seed” texture: The flat backside is textured with dots that appear to be stawberry seeds that will help you get a greater grip on the berries.
- Strawberry tops imprint: Generally, the spoon bowl is even embellished with a strawberry tops motif to resemble the fruit.
As Japanese farmers began rising strawberries domestically, shoppers may get sweeter strawberries. This implies it was now not needed so as to add milk and sugar, and strawberry spoons finally grew to become much less frequent in Japanese households.
Regardless of this, the “strawberries-and-cream” pairing stays a timeless basic that the Japanese take pleasure in to at the present time. This easiest of recipes makes a wholesome after-school snack or straightforward dessert!
Components for Japanese Strawberry Milk
- Strawberries – Choose candy, ripe, and medium-firm contemporary strawberries. I discovered strawberries imported from Korea at my native H-Mart (Korean grocery store). They appear fairly just like Japanese strawberries and style alike, too. These are barely smaller, much less bitter, and have extra strawberry taste than American strawberries.
- Milk – You should use any sort, together with plant-based milk.
- Sugar – Optionally available, and you’ll skip it in case your strawberries are candy sufficient.
Methods to Make Japanese Strawberry Milk
- Rinse the strawberries very effectively underneath operating water.
- Hull them with a pointy knife. I reduce them in half and put them in particular person bowls.
- Mash the strawberries with a strawberry spoon.
- Sprinkle sugar (optionally available) and pour milk on high. Get pleasure from!
Recipe Suggestions for Ichigo Milk
- You may elevate this quite simple recipe with good-quality strawberries and milk and cute glass bowls to emphasise the contemporary and chilled dessert.
- Search for brilliant purple strawberries with their inexperienced caps nonetheless in place. The fruit ought to have a noticeable strawberry scent, a medium firmness, and no mildew. If the strawberries are onerous and partly white, then they don’t seem to be ripe but.
- You could find strawberry spoons on Amazon, Walmart, or one other on Amazon.
Different Scrumptious Strawberry Recipes
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Showa-style Japanese Strawberry Milk (Ichigo Milk)
Ichigo Milk or Japanese Strawberry Milk is a timeless dessert and snack first popularized in Japan through the Showa period (circa 1960). Merely mash candy, contemporary strawberries in a bowl with a particular strawberry spoon and pour chilled milk on high. Really easy, so scrumptious!
Components
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