Lost your appetite, try this!

In much of California, daytime temperatures are still in the high 80s and above, and the air is quite dry. Partly due to these conditions, Northern California has had over 150 wildfires since the beginning of June, the most in the history. Speaking of fire, I went on a business trip to Las Vegas just the other day and experienced some burning heat, 113 degree Fahrenheit. The blasts of hot air felt strong enough to melt asphalt, and I totally lost my appetite. So I ended up staying inside the air-conditioned hotel room pretty much all day long.

In order to regain my appetite, I decided to try the combination of miso-flavored eggplant, a staple summer vegetable in Japan, and chilled Kamozuru Junmai Ginjo (pure premium sake).

Eggplant alone does not contain many nutrients but miso has quite a few health benefits, which include relieving fatigue, reducing cancer risks, controlling cholesterol, aiding digestion, regulating intestinal function, giving beauty effects, stimulating brain function, providing antiaging effects, and increasing basal metabolism. Soybeans, which are the main ingredient in miso, offer a good amount of quality protein as well as many other nutrients such as essential amino acids, saponin which controls lipid peroxidation, various vitamins, potassium, calcium, and dietary fiber. Lastly, but not the least, miso tastes really good with sake, which may be the best trait of all.

Hiroshima prefecture is known to have very delicious soft water. Kamozuru has a very smooth texture because it is made using local water and locally grown rice (Hattan-mai). This sake is velvety and mild and has the scent of peaches or baked apples. As the sake rolls down your throat, you will definitely taste the sweetness of the rice filling your mouth.

If you too are suffering from the summer heat, I strongly recommend that you try the combination of a nutritious miso-based dish with some Kamozuru Junmai Ginjo. I am sure you will feel as good as new.