It's like they're ok to spend a great deal of their lives to finding the perfect ramen texture or pork stock or whatever craft they set their minds on.
Below is a Japanese guy who burnt some garlic and used it as inspiration to create a blend of garlic coffee. Essentially, he spends 5 years trying out how to make a "coffee" drink using burnt garlic. Supposedly it's good for health and contains no caffeine.
Japanese man invents caffeine-free version of coffee made from garlic
Yokitomo Shimotai, a Japanese man, has invented a caffeine-free version of coffee made from garlic. Loaded with health benefits, this drink can be used as an alternative for coffee-bean coffee which contains caffeine, an unhealthy component.
An invention made thirty years ago
It was a cooking blunder that happened 30 years ago which triggered the idea of making coffee with garlic in the mind of Yokitomo Shimotai. Kyodo News reported that during his young age, Shimotai burned steak and garlic while waiting at a coffee table in Aomori Prefecture. Due to curiosity, Shimotai mixed the scorched garlic in hot water, and surprisingly, it tasted like coffee.
Shimotai kept aside his idea of making coffee with garlic till his retirement. After saying 'Adios' to his professional career, the Japanese man spent lots of time in conducting researches for making coffee with garlic. After repeated trial and errors, Shimotai finally made a recipe which gave the full essence of coffee.
In the process, Shimotai used an electronic furnace to roast the garlic, and finally mashed it up for mixing it with hot water to make a perfect cup of coffee. In 2015, he took the patent of this method. Shimotai also opened a garlic coffee-making workshop in Iwate Prefecture.
Garlic coffee: An unusually tasty experience
In a recent talk with Kyodo News, the 74-year old man confidently said that this is probably the first drink of its kind in the world. Shimotai added that this coffee is very much preferred for people who wish to drink it at night, as it does not contain caffeine. This drink is also recommended for pregnant women, as a high amount of caffeine is not that great for carrying ladies.
Even though the drink contains garlic, it will not produce bad breath, as the garlic is thoroughly roasted before using.
The garlic coffee has fetched positive reviews from users, and it is now available in two souvenir shops in Aomori Prefecture. Shimotai has priced a packet needed to make one cup of garlic coffee at 3.90 Singapore dollars.
--http://www.ibtimes.sg/japanese-man-invents-caffeine-free-version-coffee-made-garlic-18143
And I come to think of Singaporeans where many of us are not inclined to master an art/skill.
If there's no money to be made, then many Singaporeans won't have an interest in it. The idea that, everything needs a monetary incentive really runs deep within our veins.
How many of us would think... Wooooo... this burnt garlic tastes like coffee. I'm going to experiment til I find the perfect flavour??? Probably none of us... Most of us would probably be... Damn, burnt my garlic, throw it away and try to cook the garlic again. That's it, end of story...
Ok, now... there's no guarantee that this guy is going to make money from his experiment or venture. The coffee may sell well, or maybe it won't be worth the effort. But it really takes a different type of mindset to persevere in such a journey.
I find this trait missing in many Singaporeans. It's unfortunate. Some people really have an interest, especially if it is within their fields. I know some finance geeks who are paper collectors. They take course after course, degrees, Masters, etc... They just like learning and collecting papers as they go along with their work.
Or some specialist doctors, keep going to courses and more qualifications. I think it's really an interest. Cos there are General Practitioners who are selling MCs and it's quite sad that many doctors may start out wanting to help people, but when they open up their shop... it turns out that 80% of people might be visiting them for MCs...
I do think that many Singaporeans don't have much pride in their work. Many... not all. They are just drones, everyday, just go to work give the few hours to the company. If anything wrong, then wrong lor, no incentive to improve or put in that extra effort. As long as not one of the worse performers can liao.
I do think it's unfortunate. Cos it's inherent in our education or upbringing. And it shows... many Singaporeans don't have a passion for anything. Typically, they just go to work, go home, play with kids, live pretty simple lives... Not that that's not good. But it would be good if our education system incorporates more activities which will help kids explore other interests, in primary and secondary school. Not just ECA/CCA for sports, but other non-examinable topics.
Oh well... today's post is pretty much that I'm really impressed with this Japanese guy. From burnt garlic to a business idea. With years of research in between. Quite admirable.
Cos I don't think that many of us would pursue something with that much interest and tenacity.
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