Clearspring are one of my favourite brands and many of their products are staples in my kitchen – and I was delighted to be invited to attend their 20th birthday party recently.
Founded 20 years ago by Christopher Dawson, Clearspring stocks Japanese and other ingredients. The range is organic as far as possible, free from GMO and refined ingredients. Much of the Japanese range is made on a small scale by skilled artisans using centuries old methods – their misos, sea vegetables tamari and soy sauces are all excellent and well worth trying. The European range includes cold pressed organic oils, grains, seeds and nuts. I credit my signature style of Japanese flavours in classic Western dishes entirely to Clearspring, and am proud to be associated with them.
As well as sampling delicious food made with Clearspring’s products there was a demonstration of a tea ceremony and a kimono dresser dressed me – this took a good 10 minutes and felt very heavy (there were many layers), but very elegant once dressed!
New to Clearspring’s range is matcha (see my recipes here) – both in ceremonial and premium grades. Matcha is a finely ground green tea, delicious and strongly flavoured. It is also very good for you – because you consume the whole tea leaf you obtain about 130 times the antioxidants of regular green tea, I drink it, and also use in baking and smoothies.
Recipe: Coconut, Banana & Matcha-ccino
Ingredients
- 550 ml / 1 pint coconut milk drink – from a carton not tinned – well chilled (or soy or other nut milk)
- 1 banana
- 1/2 tsp matcha
Instructions
- Placce all the ingredients into a blender and whizz well. (Or add to a jug and whizz with a stick blender).
- Serve immediately.
For some Western / Japanese recipe ideas why not try some of my recipes?
- Fat free lettuce and pea soup
- Vegetarian wonky fruit jellies
- Speltotto with fish
- Steak with miso butter
- Japanese beef casserole with wasabi miso mash
- Miso potato salad
- Japanese beef Wellington
- Vegetable salad with seaweed and miso dressing
Here is to Clearspring’s next 20 years!
Many thanks to Clearspring for asking me to their party, for a goodie bag and also for their most generous product support over the years.
Camilla @FabFood4All
What a lush combination! Following an operation a couple of years ago I drank Matcha Green Tea everyday for many months and I have to say it really did put a spring in my step and hopefully bolstered my immune system too:-) I used to just drink mine mixed with apple juice, wish I’d had this recipe!
Helen
It is so good for you. We are also drinking cold brew green tea at the moment. Delicious and thirst quenching.
Corin
Hi Helen,
I’m wish I read this a few days ago as I just ordered 100g of matcha from another company :( Nevermind, I will definitely be getting some of the sea salad & brown miso from clearspring, I’ve been looking on the internet and not sure of what brand is good, so thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
Helen
Hi Corin,
Thanks for commenting. I cannot recommend them highly enough, all excellent quality, and very importantly keeping the artisan traditions and skills alive.