Pretty in Red

Cherry blossoms for this year are already landing in Japan. I’ve been trying to book a trip there for Easter vacation, but it is so in popular demand. Thinking of a gorgeous sea of pink, under which I may have a hearty bite of a rose-colored strawberry, grown in the local soil and ripen to the very season. Wouldn’t that worth a celebration! Flights are getting insanely full and pricey, just less than a week away now.

When I was passing by the grocery section at Sogo (a Japanese department store in town) these big lovely strawberries really tickled my appetite. There are different ranks and categories when looking at these ruby jewels, if you care for the devil in the details. What’s in the picture here are of a luxurious specie called ‘Amaou’, produced in Fukuoka. Typically big, voluptuous and sweet, its nicknamed ‘king of sweetness’ (甘王) in local terms.

Now, if you pay attention to the ‘G’ print on the right side of the box, it denotes ‘great’. I think it is about the best grade you can get in offshore outlets, whereas the top notch grade ‘Ex’ (means ‘excellent’) is only available in Japan. Appearance, taste and texture all make the difference.

If you are in Japan, you are blessed with these gems of nature and so, explore and indulge!