Interview with Masataka Haruyama, the representative
We spoke with Haruyama about the rare "brown rice tea brewed with a siphon," which he knows of only two places in the country, and his commitment to tea and the stories related to tea porridge.
Commitment to brewing brown rice tea with a siphon
What inspired you to brew tea with a siphon?
Haruyama
LOGIN Kurashiki, where our shop is located, aimed to create a space to welcome international travelers. Therefore, when considering how to let them experience Japanese culture, we thought of providing Japanese tea.
So, we decided to create an original "brown rice tea" to serve carefully brewed tea one cup at a time using a siphon.
Development of original brown rice tea
Why didn't you use commercially available brown rice tea?
Haruyama
I wanted to serve a tea unique to Waryu Proposta.
Since the siphon gets very hot, we collaborated with tea shops and, after trying various tea leaves, we decided on Karigane and Kamiaoyagi.
The challenging part was selecting the brown rice; most of them would just burn when put in the roaster, and it was difficult to get the rice grains to pop properly.
Finally, we found "Nikomaru" from Okayama Prefecture.
What are the difficulties of roasting?
Haruyama
Since the temperature and humidity change every day, to make a fragrant and mellow brown rice tea, we have to roast it according to those subtle differences.
While checking the temperature of the roaster, I focus my attention on the color change of the rice and how well it pops, and I try to sense the change in aroma with my nose, concentrating on my eyes and nose during the roasting process.
Why do you serve roasted brown rice together?
Haruyama
You can enjoy it as is, or as a topping for tea porridge to enjoy the texture, or added to the tea as arare to enjoy the aroma, allowing customers to enjoy the tea with all five senses.
Why was tea porridge added to the regular menu?
Please tell us the background of adding tea porridge to the menu.
Haruyama
I heard that many customers were looking for places to eat, and it was born from the idea of trying to make tea porridge using our strong point, brown rice tea.
At first, it was only salmon and cod roe, but I added miso-grilled rice ball tea porridge and saikyo-grilled tea porridge, keeping in mind local products and seasonal ingredients.
Tea porridge has a light image, but the size of the ingredients seems like it could be served as a main dish in a set meal.
Haruyama
I wanted customers to enjoy a substantial amount rather than a small quantity, so they could feel full and enjoy Kurashiki.
There are even customers who come two days in a row, and since the response from customers was more than I expected, we initially offered it only in the morning, but we decided to offer it all day.
The future of Waryu Proposta and Haruyama's thoughts
What kind of shop do you want Waryu Proposta to be in the city of Kurashiki?
Haruyama
I hope it becomes a place where people can enjoy tea porridge after strolling around Kurashiki and spend time feeling Japan while slowly drinking tea.
Also, I want to take on various challenges, including menu development and business styles, including lunch and dinner, which we currently handle by reservation.
Conclusion
The new menu item "tea porridge," which can be eaten anytime without a reservation, was a hearty and delicate dish filled with the shop's commitment.
In addition to canelé, Waryu Proposta, which values a Japanese taste with sweets made from its proud red bean paste cooked in a copper pot, invites you to enjoy a warm moment at a shop located deep in a narrow alley leading to the Bikan Historical Area after breakfast or after strolling around the city.
It seems that Haruyama still has many new ideas in mind.
I look forward to seeing what new menu items will be added and the evolution of Waryu Proposta.
Data on Waryu Proposta
| Name | Waryu Proposta |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-20-9 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture (inside LOGIN Kurashiki) |
| Contact | 080-4421-3343 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Regular Holiday | Wednesday If Wednesday is a holiday, the regular holiday will be moved to the next day |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation Availability | Yes Please make a reservation for lunch and dinner |
| Seating | 20 seats including table and counter seats |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking No smoking |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet, barrier-free toilet Western-style and barrier-free |
| Childcare | Diaper changing sheet Available |
| Barrier-free | Barrier-free toilet Available |
| Website | Waryu Proposta |
