[Summer Treats] Healthy and Safe Shaved Ice: Red Shiso Juice Can Be Made in 30 Minutes Even by Beginners

Shaved ice is something you just crave when it's hot.

But look at that color, enough to stain your tongue.

・Have you ever turned your tongue blue and pretended to be Dracula?
・I thought I was a bit more grown-up when I started choosing Blue Hawaii over the classic strawberry.
・It used to be 100 yen, but isn't 300 yen for shaved ice a bit expensive?

Is it just me?

I understand why kids love shaved ice.
I used to eat it all the time without knowing any better.

But!

Feeding kids shaved ice loaded with food coloring
makes me feel a little uneasy inside...

For those moms out there:

★In addition to the fatigue-relieving effects of citric acid,
there are also

✅ body-warming effects
✅ Improves energy circulation
✅ Supports stomach function
✅ Good for colds and coughs
✅ Anti-aging (anthocyanin and beta-carotene)

with these wonderful benefits,
wouldn't you like to enjoy some healthy shaved ice made with 'red shiso'

together with your kids?
(Actually, I want to eat it myself.)

Today,

I'm talking about
red shiso juice that can also be used as a shaved ice syrup.

It was my first time, but it was easier than I thought.
In fact, I was able to make it in about 30 minutes.

I used to think, "Only health-conscious people make this,"
but it turns out it's actually really easy to make.

Even I can do this.

Both adults and children can easily
incorporate red shiso juice into their daily lives
and stay healthy throughout the summer!

It happened on a day in June.

Something I had never paid attention to before
caught my eye.

It was
"red shiso."

I don't have the confidence to make pickled plums yet, so
I don't need it...

Usually,
I would have gracefully ignored it.

And yet,
for some reason, that time
I found myself reaching for it.

It was as if
something had pushed me from behind.

And so, my first-ever
"red shiso" came home with me.

For some unknown reason,
it also came with green chili peppers.

(Does anyone know why?)

I've never used red shiso before.

What should I make... After thinking about it,

That's it,
I'll make red shiso juice.

The guided ones.

The path opened up on its own.

I tried making red shiso juice (citric acid version).

[Ingredients]

・Red shiso: 200g
・Citric acid: 15g
・Sugar: 500g
・Water: 2 liters

*I used 'Sodaito' (unrefined sugar).

You can buy citric acid at drugstores.
You can also make it with apple cider vinegar.

[Instructions]
Time required: Just under 30 minutes (excluding cooling time)

1. Wash the red shiso veeeeery well.
(In one spot, there was a dense cluster of what looked like ladybug eggs. It was pretty gross. But I had made up my mind, so I didn't give up.)
(Some people pick only the leaves off the stems, but it's fine to leave them on the stems.)

2. Put 2 liters of water in a pot and bring to a boil.

3. Add all the red shiso and boil for about 5 minutes.

4. Remove the red shiso, add the sugar, and dissolve it.

5. Add the citric acid.
(You mustn't miss the moment the color suddenly changes to a vibrant hue.)

And what I ended up with was
'Red Shiso Juice: Nostalgic'

You're supposed to dilute it a little before drinking... but
you will likely find yourself fighting the urge to drink it straight as a luxury
every single time you have a glass. (Book of Prophecy)

And then,
if you pour this over shaved ice...

Whoa!!
It's so bright red it's reminiscent of strawberry syrup.

No way...that's the kind of vibrant color it has.

It's truly vivid.

With this much red,
Char would definitely be surprised.

For our family, who couldn't buy shaved ice syrup
because we were worried about food coloring,
a savior has appeared.

This is truly"The Red Comet: Red Shiso Juice"

A refreshing and easy-to-eat shaved ice.

My 5-year-old daughter loved it too.
Mission accomplished!

Bonus: Homemade Yukari using the leftover red shiso

The leftover red shiso. It's a waste to throw it away.
↓
Let's use it.

To keep the color,
first rub it with salt, put it in a bag, and leave it overnight.

After drying it out completely,
use a mill to finely grind just the leaf parts.

In no time at all,
you can even make "homemade Yukari."

I tend to lose my appetite in the hot summer,
so I'll add this Yukari to my collection
of 'little medicinal' items I can easily add to meals.

A rare character you only see around June,
"Red Shiso"

It's a waste to only use it for pickled plums.

✅ Fatigue recovery effect of citric acid
✅ Body warming effect
✅ Improves energy circulation
✅ Helps stomach function
✅ Good for colds and coughs
✅ Anti-aging (anthocyanin/beta-carotene)

Let's get through the summer with red shiso juice.

And,
please enjoy it with your shaved ice.

So, today's story is
that you really should make
red shiso juice.

Updating every Tuesday and Friday at noon🎉

This was Ayako Furukawa, a researcher of beautiful meals.

When you start doing 'seasonal handiwork' at home,
it feels like every day becomes richer.