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Japanese Cheese: Hokkaido Raw Milk Cheeses Plate

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There is a very welcome competition in Shizuoka City when it comes to cheese, both from Japan and abroad, because of the awareness created by Keiko Kubota at Gentil.
Now, I have the luck to be very friendly with the owner of Nagashima Liqueur Shop in Shizuoka City who spent a long time studying in France. As a wine lover, he is very fond of cheese and retails a few very well-chosen ones in his shop.

These days he is introducing a series of delicious raw milk (unusual in Japan till recently) from Hokkaido.
Last night I had the pleasure to taste them at home at last:

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Top left: Sasa no Yuki
Top right: Koban
Bottom Left: Sakura
Bottom right: Raclette

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Sasa no Yuki means Bamboo Grass Snow. Such short ban\mboo grass are found everywhere in Japan and have been used for eons to wrap food. A bamboo grass is “wrapped” around the cheese reminiscent of the French Feuille de Dreux Cheese.
Mild Camembert type, very easy to eat on some great toasted bread!
It is the size of a Camembert, 250g and like all these cheeses is exclusively made form Cow’s raw milk with the addtion of a little salt.
All four cheeses can aged at home.

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Koban is another soft type cheese reminiscent of Pave and Camembert in France. Very mild and easy on the palate.
Weight: 150 g

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Sakura/Cherry Blossom is considered as the best Japanese creation when it comes to cheese. It received prizes all over the World, especially Germany, and was served at the last G8 Meeting in Hokkaido!
Weight: 90g
Served with a cherry blossom pickled in salt.
Reminiscent of Saint-Marcellin, but slightly milder, it is extremely elegant and complex.
Can be matured at will!
A discovery!

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Raclette. made in the same way as Swiss and French Raclette, it is milder and great heated and flowing on brea, as a Fondue, as it is or toatsed on muffins!
It had been matured for 3 months.
Won the Best Japanese Cheese Contest in 1998.
Weight: 200g per cut.

Nagashima Saketen
Address:
420 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku,Ryuunan, 1-12-7
Tel.: 054-2459260
Fax: 054-2459252
(Japanese Blog)

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18 thoughts on “Japanese Cheese: Hokkaido Raw Milk Cheeses Plate”

  1. Dear Robert-Gilles-san
    Konnichiwa: Domo arigato for your quick reply. However I live in New Jersey USA. I want to buy the cheese on the web and send it to a person living in Tokyo. Sumemasen my Japanese language spelling.
    Awaiting your answer,
    Harriet Monshaw

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  2. Konbawa
    Where can these Hokkaido cheese be purchased on the web and sent to Tokyo for New Years gifts? I forgot to check the “Notify me of follow-up comments via email” box.

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  4. Thanks for the info on Japanese cheese – very helpful in my journey to learn more about cheese around the world – not just Wisconsin, Vermont, France and Italy…

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  5. Hello,
    I’m going up to hokkaido next month. After living in Kyoto for 1 year, I’m starved for good cheese. Can anyone tell me of some cheese loving towns, shops, meccas in Hokkaido???

    thnx

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    1. Dear Friend!
      Greetings!
      Please check this shop in Sapporo:
      CHEESE PLEASE HOKKAIDO
      060-0062 Hokkaido Ken, Sapporo Shi, Chuo Ku, Minami, 2 jo Nishi, 4-11-4 Sapporo Chika Kai (Underground Mall) Ball Town
      TEL:011-272-6551
      FAX:011-272-6556
      Which cities do you have in mind?
      Cheers,
      Robert-Gilles

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  6. fresh raw cheese has such a better flavor – too bad the US has so many rules and regulations….

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    1. Dear Friend!
      I totally agree with you!
      Here in Japan the rules are strict and the cheese is a bit too mild to my taste.
      Incidentally, last month, I had the occasion to taste a 10-year old Wisconsin Red Cheddar!
      Cheers,
      Robert-Gilles

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  7. I was at a wine tasting this past weekend, and I loved that the host stepped out a little from the norm and put out two raw milk cheeses, and I loved it…they make the best grilled cheese; although I mean if you have left overs and need an idea to use them up.

    I miss the old foodbuzz…I cannot keep up with all my friends here!

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  8. We’ve been seeing a lot more raw milk cheeses around here too. These look excellent!

    Thank you so much for your comment about heirloom tomatoes on my blog! just got back from LA, a new 5-star review tomorrow 🙂

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  10. This looks like somewhere well worth visiting. Thanks for the address, but I wonder if you could you give a landmark for easy location. Cheers.

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