Starting the week by preparing amazake
Around the time I started going to counseling
I was recommended to "try drinking amazake"
That was my first encounter with amazake
A little while later
In a book about fasting that I decided to try
Amazake appeared there as well
It seemed it wasn't just a "sweet drink"—thinking that, I picked up a store-bought one, but
The taste didn't quite suit me, and the list of ingredients also bothered me a little
If that's the case, I might as well make it myself
In that way, for many years now
Amazake has been a staple in my kitchen
At first, I used an induction cooktop with temperature settings and a pot
It wasn't inconvenient, but suddenly
I thought, "Isn't there a way to make it a bit more easily?"
And decided to look into yogurt makers
And that's when I met Vitantonio
For me, aspiring to be a minimalist, welcoming a new appliance was a decision that required a bit of courage
However, I fell in love at first sight with its clean appearance, which looked almost like medical equipment
The moment it arrived and I opened the box, a smile naturally spread across my face
I knew I had made the right choice
Even if I don't use it every day, every time I make amazake once a week, I'm glad I encountered this machine
Before I knew it, I started making yogurt and soft-boiled eggs as well
Quiet joys began to increase in my kitchen
Amazake is sometimes called "drinkable IV drip"
The enzymes in the koji help with digestion, and the glucose and B vitamins are useful for recovering from fatigue
In the summer when my appetite drops, I mix it with cold soy milk
On cold winter mornings, I gently warm it up in a pot
Both have a deeply gentle taste
When the scent of koji rising from the glass container eventually changes to a sweet and mellow aroma, I think about the time I spend each day putting things in order with my own hands
Today, too, I will prepare amazake
Making it properly, drinking it properly
It is like a small ritual to start the week
It is a time that gives my life a spoonful of confidence and peace of mind
Lastly...
The time spent making amazake might be a quiet reward, not just for taking care of my body, but for telling my heart, "You're doing a good job."
Thank you for reading until the end 🙏