Sweet Potato Tempura with YUCa’s Tea Green Tea W/ Toasted Rice
Japan is home to many regional specialties, each rooted in traditional local cuisine. At YUCa’s Tea, we feature Tosa Cha—roasted green tea (hojicha) and green tea with toasted rice (genmaicha)—which are deeply connected to the culture of Kochi Prefecture. Kochi is renowned for its bold seared food traditions, including straw-fire seared bonito (warayakikatsuo no tataki), large communal platters (sawachiryori), and countryside-style sushi (inaka sushi). These dishes reflect the region’s unique history, climate, and locally sourced ingredients.
As a perfect companion to tea, we’d like to introduce imo-ten (sweet potato tempura), a beloved soul food of Kochi. Often enjoyed both as a snack and a mealtime side dish, imo-ten features tender, fluffy chunks of sweet potato encased in a light batter that’s subtly sweet and savory. It’s a comforting, everyday treat cherished by locals.
Kochi’s rich culinary culture also includes a love for roasting and grilling. In that spirit, YUCa’s Tea Green Tea with Toasted Rice (Genmaicha) is crafted by roasting rice with green tea leaves, producing a soothing blend with a toasty aroma, refreshing green tea notes, and a clean finish. It beautifully complements the slightly rich, savory flavor of imo-ten, refreshing the palate while enhancing the natural sweetness of the sweet potato.
If you have the chance to visit Kochi, we hope you’ll experience this delightful pairing of imo-ten and Genmaicha—a true taste of the region’s charm.
