季節の楽しみ｜Seasonal Fun｜2021/05/31

新茶をいただいた。新緑の香りにほんのり甘味がある。せっかくなのでお菓子を虎屋で買ってくる。茄子の形をしたなすび餅、抹茶に包まれた宇治の里、３色のそぼろのかさね葉。かわいいなすび餅が最初に出されたのは1651年という。さすが室町から続く虎屋だ。こうやって300年以上前の日本人も初夏を楽しんだのかなぁと思いを巡らせながら新茶をいただく。コロナで陰鬱した日が続くけれど、季節は確実に巡ってくる。今しかない旬の楽しみ。そろそろさくらんぼかなぁ。（絵と文：サカキテツ朗）

I got new tea. The scent of fresh green has a slight sweetness. I bought sweets at Toraya to enjoy new tea more. I got eggplant-shaped Eggplant mochi, Uji no Sato wrapped in matcha, and Kasane leaves with three-colored soboro. The cute Eggplant mochi was first served in 1651. As expected, it is a Toraya that continues from Muromachi. I got new tea while thinking that Japanese people over 300 years ago also enjoyed early summer in this way. The days of gloomy in Corona continue, but the seasons are sure to come. I want to enjoy seasonal fun that is only available now. The next may be cherry. -Text and illustration by Ted Sakaki