Tokugawa Shogun Coffee!

Posted on Mar 13, 2012 in Hiroko's Blog

Mr. Yoshio Suzuki of Saza Coffee Company introduced us at the event his unique coffee. The following note is from his company’s brochure. “The 15th and last Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan, Yoshinobu Tokugawa, is known to be the first Japanese to taste coffee. In 1867 he entertained the Western delegates at the Osaka castle with French banquet. It is said that the ingredients, including the coffee, used for the banquet all came from Marseille, France. At the end of the dinner a cup of delicious coffee was served.”

Yoshitomo Tokugawa, great grand son of Yoshinobu Tokugawa, was eager to recreate the flavorful coffee which was served at the banquet. He researched and found the type of beans used and how the were roasted from historical documents. The answer was the use of high-quality Indonesian Mandelin coffee beans and French style roasting method. Saza Coffee now packages and sells this historical coffee under the brand name of Tokugawa Shogun Coffee.

Here you see the individual serving portion of Tokugawa Shogun Coffee package. It comes with how-to-brew coffee instructions. The ready to use coffee paper bag contains 16g/0.6oz of ground coffee. I first wet the ground coffee with enough water as it is suggested (the temperature of the water has to be between 167 and 176 degree F) and let it steam for 30 seconds. Then, I poured hot water little by little. Something what I did was wrong. I did not get the fine foam which is shown in the instruction. I am going to e-mail Suzuki-san. The brewed coffee reminded me of the one which I enjoyed in Japan. It is strong but has round flavor with some sweetness, noted acidity and slight bitterness. No milk nor sugar is necessary. I really tasted the flavor of the coffee beans. This is how we enjoy a cup of coffee in Japan. Only a cup in a day is sufficient.