Bags of Fun! Eco Practices East and West

OK, possibly not all that much fun... 

I've been in Malaysia recently, and noted with some pleasedness that plastic bags were in short supply. Now, some supermarkets make you pay if you want a plastic bag; and most other outlets will ask you ambiguously 'Plastic?' when you purchase an item. ('Plastic?' being typical SE Asian economy-English for 'Would you like a plastic bag for that?') The cutback is apparently a new national directive. And most of the time we indeed do not require 'plastic'. 

The UK and other countries in Europe have had more stringent practices for some years. Plastic bags - most of which are non-bio-degradable, but also bio-degradable ones - cause big problems worldwide. Improperly disposed-of, they clog drainage (I recently worked with a project in the Philippines, where this was the issue and put communities at huge risk during flood times) and have all sorts of detrimental effects on wildlife on land and in the ocean. Even when they're thrown away properly they bung up landfill, and the eventual breakdown releases polluting chemicals into the soil. In fact, even their ingredients and manufacture degrade the environment, and emit polluting chemicals. Bio-degradable bags are not much better. They still require manufacture - with sometimes even more toxic ingredients - and 'bio-degrading' can just mean they release their  pollutants faster. Some conditions and climates mean they won't break down at all. 'Bio-degradable', it seems, does not mean the same as 'eco-friendly'.
 
Of course, for consumer convenience, no bags can be pain in the arse. In the UK, you usually cannot answer 'yes' and get a plastic bag - you have to pay. Large chain supermarkets will charge you 5p (or 5 cents or equivalent) for each plastic bag if you have forgotten to keep a recyclable alternative in your own handbag. The big brand chains probably profit from this; the whole deal is certainly a better bet for them financially, regardless of whether they care for the environment or not (and I would hazard a guess that 'not' applies in many cases, though they might try to greenwash it!) But the cash savings are an incentive to make them comply. Some studies have also shown that if certain areas have bag bans, consumers are more likely to shop just outside that area, for their own convenience (though admittedly the source for one study was Plastics Today ^^). So, the directives have to be blanket, and nationwide. 

I am not a particular eco-warrior. I just grew up in a region where eco has been a big, legislated, educationally-supported, deal for some decades. I got used to carrying my backpack, or an extra tote, around in London. It wasn't 100% convenient, but everyone had to do it, so fair enough. (We pack our own groceries in UK supermarkets, btw - in Asia, cashiers often do it for you.) 

Having been in Asia for a while and learned a little more, I feel a bit more strongly. I am a keen SCUBA diver - which is something I highly recommend, especially in SE Asia, a world hotspot for fantastic marine life. But it's depressing to see bags (and plastic bottles) littering the shores. Or plastic wrapped around remote corals and other suffering marine life. Some are also mistaken for jellyfish and eaten, leading to death for the unsuspecting creature. These are improperly disposed-of bags, of course. And the entire bag-pollution problem is a complex mix of social, educational, economic and political factors which I'm not qualified to outline. But if there are a lot less bags circulating, one can only hope there is a lot less to 'mis-dispose' of too.

Meanwhile...
Next door to newly bag-free Malaysia, affluent Singapore is a very different story. I was shocked when I first moved there and discovered that you get plastic bags with everything - sometimes a double layer! - and in supermarkets, nearly every item will be bagged separately. For a modest six-item shop, for example, you could easily carry four separate plastic bags home. I spent months annoying queuing shoppers and cashiers alike, by trying to insist on one bag only. (I've since discovered that SE Asian economy-English 'No need!' is required for this too. A polite English 'It's OK, I really only need one bag for the groceries!' gets you nowhere! But it's still often an unpopular request.)

More perplexing still, most supermarket bags in Singapore are printed with something like 'Let's protect our environment!' or 'Use bags sparingly'. When the supermarkets practice the exact opposite! A trip to Fairprice or Cold Storage can start to resemble an ironic performance art piece.

So what's going on there? In general, wealthy Singapore tends to be a few steps head of its poorer neighbours, and things are also usually fairly smartly organised. (In fact, on balance, I'd often say better organised than in the UK). But I've not noticed much genuine eco-awareness there yet. There's a bit of 'lifestyle' eco-awareness - ie it's fashionable in some circles to be seen as modern and eco-aware; and corporates do clumsy 'bolt-on' CSR projects to pick up litter etc. But whether this translates into daily eco-aware routine and action, I'm not sure. Recycling at household level seems to be a fairly superficial process, and it's not widely done. I also remember being told off at my office several times, for not reboiling a full kettle each time I made coffee. Because somebody might want to reheat it and make a drink later in the day. This is considerate to potential coffee drinkers, but I'd been taught since teen years in the UK, that you should only boil as much as you need. To avoid waste (of fuel/energy). And be more environmentally positive. In Europe, boiling a full kettle for no direct purpose is viewed as hugely irresponsible!

In fact, Singapore is currently listed at 14 in the global Environmental Performance Index. It is the only Asian nation in the top 30! (Japan comes in next, at 39. Malaysia is no. 63)(And yes, the top 10 are all in Europe!) So something must be being done right at Singapore's higher levels. But day-to-day eco awareness, and certainly the misuse of plastic bags, seems to require some work. 


You can check out the 2016 EPI rankings and report here: http://epi.yale.edu/country-rankings


*FYI for English-learners, 'pleasedness' is not an official word. It is 'poetic license' as neither 'satisfaction' nor 'pleasure' had quite the correct meaning! 

Matcha of the Day: Franco's green tea latte float

Another from Kuala Lumpur. I'm guessing this chain is local (? I've never seen it in London or Singapore, for example - it has almost zero web presence) and it apparently serves French/Japanese fusion food and drinks. So you'd expect the green tea to be fairly good, right? And this iced matcha latte, with a green tea soft-serve float is quite presentable. It's not 100% on point, but if you're not near a real Japanese matcha outlet, it a perfectly decent choice. 

The Review  
The flavour has some matcha bitterness, although it's not tremendously creamy. The soft-serve is ever so slightly grainy, but the best aspect is that there is a generous portion of it. AND there aren't too many giant rocks of ice watering down the drink, as in some other matcha offers in the region. So over a few minutes, the melting ice-cream does contribute to a fairly rich and flavoursome experience. It's good enough that I have had it twice so far (in the absence of a Tsujiri etc, obviously). 

Price-wise, it's reasonable. This is pretty much a whole dessert, and you get a satisfying quantity for your bucks. Have sat quite happily for an hour or so, jotting notes and things, with one of these drinks slowly steeping on the table. (There is aircon in Franco, obviously!)

FYI I also tried Franco's plain matcha latte (without float) and it was extremely mediocre / a bit watery, and far too sweet. Perhaps consistency is not their thing? Either way, go for the ice-cream option! 

Gigi Hadid, tomato face and antihistamines

FYI this post has nothing to do with Gigi Hadid. That was just an evil ruse. That is unless Gigi has trouble processing her alcohol. Maybe she does?

I have just been watching a fairly entertaining BBC documentary about alcohol. In it, Brits of all ethnic backgrounds took part in experiments covering alco's effects on the human body. But nobody once mentioned that Asians (OK, East and SE Asians mainly) have more trouble processing the stuff.
   
Is it a myth? 

For many years now, I've both believed - and experienced? - the phenomenon. As some of you know, I'm mixed race European and Asian. I grew up in the UK, among beer and wine-loving friends. But at the age of about 27 I suddenly started getting bad reactions to drinking alcohol. Nothing life-threatening. Principally a red, itchy rash (hives) with blocked nose and sneezing if I continued to drink. Wine was the worst culprit (red wine also suddenly giving me terrible headaches!) Half a glass could bring on symptoms. Spirits and beer definitely better, but more than 2 bottles of lager will set off the same itchy, sneezy reaction. So I cut back. It's fine. Nobody needs weekly alcohol. And with new guide limits set in parts of Europe (ie we should drink only a fraction of what we thought we should, to stay healthy) it's possibly even fortunate. My whole British family (self included) is very allergy-prone, so I put the reactions down to this. It was only a bit later that I heard that Asians also have reactions to booze. Double-whammy?

On relocating to Asia I discovered that things are a bit more complex. Generally, in SE Asia, people drink a lot less. This is partly because some religions forbid or discourage it. But also the cultures here are not focused on alcohol in the way that Northern Europe is. (It is - the fact that the word 'drinking' in the UK/West means 'alcoholic drinking' possibly says it all!) On a group bar outing in Singapore, you might find that half the people will order alcohol, half won't. There is no stigma attached to either drinking or not drinking. It's just not really a focus. You will very rarely see anybody drunk in Singapore, for example (and if you do, they're probably expats). There doesn't seem to be any kind of obsessive drunkenness bravado among Uni students either (there is in the UK!) Alcohol is taxed highly in Singapore, so I'm guessing cost is a disincentive for many students (?) But in my experience in Europe, cost, legal age, or any other kind of governmental constraint is useless if the college-goers really want something. (Actually there's another blog post lurking here about general rule-breaking - but maybe later!)

So, based on the above, if a genetic disposition is potentially a myth, perhaps an Asian  reaction to alcohol is simply a question of lack of or little exposure to it? OK I grew up in England, but was never one of those 'hardened', drunken students, or late-night, gutter-hugging adults.

Move a bit further (and colder) North in Asia, however, and things might be a bit different. Japanese - and apparently also Korean and mainland Chinese - culture has some seriously heavy drinking going on. With lethal local beverages such as China's 50% proof 'bai jiu'* involved. These countries have their own traditional wines and spirits (sake, umeshu, shochu, soju, makgeolli and many more) and drinking is part of corporate culture. Nights out heavy-drinking might be expected (even for women today) as part of your office obligations, it seems. It is also -  as it is in the West - a way to de-stress. In pristine Tokyo, I was surprised to notice stumbling, vomiting men in suits rambling the pavements and subways at night - just like they do in London's financial district. 

Makgeolli

In Singapore, I've met several people (East and SE Asian, mostly females if I'm being honest) who get the 'red face' (aka tomato face) and other reactions to drinking. But also poised Japanese women who can chug beer like a German farmer, with no effects. So what gives with the Asians+alcohol thing?

Some explanations
In fact, there IS a genetic disposition. (Shame on you, BBC!) But there are also other reactions which are not Asian-specific. The Asian reaction, often known as alcohol flush reaction or Asian flush syndrome affects around a third of East/SE Asians. Often people with some Chinese, Japanese, or Korean heritage. It's the result of the body producing less or none of an enzyme which helps process alcohol. And it can mean a sudden red face which looks 'sunburnt', dizziness, headache, racing-heart - but also sometimes (especially if you're already an allergic type of person) itchy hives, blocked nose etc. And as one website stated "Prevention would include not drinking alcohol". 

But the ethanol (ie alcohol) in drinks can also trigger itchy, red, sneezy or wheezy reactions, or even stomach cramping and anaphylaxis in especially allergy-prone people of any race. Then there are allergic reactions to all sorts of other ingredients for individuals who respond to them - which might also be connected to the same processing enzymes, even if you're not Asian. [Hops, wheat, grapes, yeast, sulfites, histamines... this allergy list seems to pretty much cover the entire spectrum of brewing and distilling constituents worldwide!]


My condition? It does seem like a possible 'double whammy'! Many aspects, such as the fact it only started a decade into my drinking life, that wine is worse than other drinks, and that antihistamines help considerably, have fit fairly well with other allergic patterns. But I'm the only one of my hayfeverish, rashy, asthmatic British family to have alcohol as a trigger. The Asian bit? Either way - and though I do love an occasional cold beer, a beach-side margarita, or trying local brews - being in SE Asia pretty much suits my modest drinking habits. Besides, it's actually quite nice to be female and order fruit juice in a bar, without someone concluding that you must be pregnant.


* 白酒; báijiǔ means literally 'white spirit'. Which, ironically, is the UK name for paint-thinner. Coincidence? ^^

Top image: The main character (played by Takeshi Kitano) having some sake in the movie Zatoichi.


Related on this blog:

Alcohols of Bali - Arak, Brem & Tabuhan 

Skane Akvavit 

Absinthe

Frozen beer foam beer 

Nosh of the Day: Makgeolli

 

 

Matcha of the Day: Cosans Coffee's matcha latte

Matcha is becoming so popular (in Asia at least - though there's now a Tsujiri in London - and I've noticed it's catching on among health-fad types in the US and across Instagram) that most cafes will offer an option now. 

And although most are not up to par with the Japanese originals like Nana's or Tsujiri, some are not all bad. Today's try was at one of Cosans Coffee's outlets in Malaysia. And this time I had a hot matcha latte, instead of my frequent ice-blended. 

The verdict: 
Not at all bad, flavour-wise. It was not far off Tsujiri's hot milk matcha latte in fact, with a definite bitter tea edge while also being quite creamy. Sugar syrup is automatically added, and I don't know if you can ask for it without here. But the sweetness was about right for me. (Unlike Starbuck's where it's too sweet even with 'no syrup' requested!) 

The downside: Cosans' high price and small portion. Compared to both Japanese and non-Japanese outlets, where you can get a far larger and better-value cup-full. I was actually quite shocked when a small, cappuccino-sized cup appeared! And very irritatingly (I think all over Malaysia?) the price up on the boards is BEFORE any kind of tax. So you can basically add RM$2 hidden dollars on to the price of your drink. 

I probably won't drink it again, because of the cost:portion factor. But it was worth the try to satisfy my curiosity! Hopefully I'll get to try out a couple more new venues while I'm here in Kuala Lumpur. 

Stuff Valentine's. Here's a much better Western festival to celebrate this month

Pancake Day. 

OK, this is a Christian festival, but anyone can enjoy it (except, possibly, vegans - sorry). This is the day when you can literally celebrate by making and eating pancakes. Hurrah! 

I know, that's bad, isn't it? Pancake Day (real name: Shrove Tuesday) is a religious festival. And actually - even though I am very lapsed and almost agnostic - I don't forget that aspect. But last year I celebrated it with people who were Shinto and Buddhist, and - a bit like aspects of Christmas - it's sometimes nice to share :) 

So, here's something to think about for 28th February...

The Real Shrove Tuesday
Is the day before the start of Lent. In the Christian calendar, Lent is the forty-odd days leading up to Easter, and during this time committed Christians are usually expected to give up something they like but don't need. For some strict groups, Lent is a month of fasting. Generally, observing abstinence from foods is often accompanied by more time in prayer and a common paring back of all excess. The aim is to think more about the things one needs to repent for (and in fact the term 'shrove' comes from an old word meaning 'absolve'). In the UK today there are many different kinds of Christianity, but usually religious types would opt for giving up something like chocolate, alcohol, or clothes-shopping - or other enjoyable luxuries.

But before the days of Cadbury's and shopping malls, the English tradition was to give up rich, yummy things like fat, milk, sugar and eggs. 

So on the day before Lent, all these luxury foods would be used up from the kitchen. And one nice thing you can make using milk, sugar and eggs (fried in fat)? Pancakes! And why not share them with friends, in a convivial atmosphere (maybe while conducting a crazy 'pancake tossing'* game)?

Shrove Tuesday is a kind of 'last blowout' before the abstinence of Lent. In fact in other countries they have carnival celebrations on the day for the same reason (the carnival term mardi gras is French for 'fat Tuesday'!) 

Pancakes: the truth laid bare
Pancakes, as British people know them, are not thick, fluffy things with blueberries a la USA. English pancakes are wafer-thin, and either rolled or folded around their fillings (usually lemon juice and sugar for Shrove Tuesday - but anything goes!) These are known in other parts of the world as 'crepes' - after French crepes. But we make them in the UK too. (There are actually regional variations like the smaller and thicker Scotch Pancakes - but for the purposes of Pancake Day and pancake tossing - the crepe is your guy.) 

Here's a recipe for English-style 'crepe' pancakes. Even my friend's 9 year old daughter can make really good versions of these!  
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2907669/easy-pancakes

Happy eating. 

*Pancake tossing is literally tossing the crepe up in the air, to turn it over in the frying pan. 

Oh, and here's an episode about Lent from the beloved and slightly irreverent UK comedy show, Father Ted: 

 

Pancake image: sharingourfoodadventures.com

Party Etiquette - English style

There are inevitable cultural differences between East and West. And over my time living in Asia I have encountered a quite a few regarding party etiquette - particularly between Japanese expat groups and my own expectations (which are fundamentally British).

Things which seem totally 'the norm' for me, are not for others. In fact some things I perceive as downright rude, but then have to realise that this is what cultural understanding is all about (especially if the protagonists are not rude people generally, or if the behaviour is common!) Cultures are, after all, not just about interesting festivals and cuisine - but a whole array of more complex things to do with value systems, perceptions, expectations and behaviours - including  what is considered 'good manners'.

So since it has been party season, I thought I'd outline what we generally do and expect in the UK regarding socialising. Tbh I think the below expectations are probably fairly applicable to adults for several cultures in the West. So perhaps this post will help eliminate a few misunderstandings. Or help any non-Brits socialising in the UK! And yes, it is not only East Asian cultures which are minefields of manners for foreigners... ^^

If You're A Guest 

DO

• Arrive late. 15-20 minutes late is polite for a small dinner party at someone's home. It is actually rude to arrive at the time stated on the invitation! And very rude to arrive early. For large events (at a hired venue for example) even later is OK. This 'social lateness' custom is the opposite from business-related meetings, where, of course, being early is good! 
• Bring a gift for the host. Usual gifts are alcohol, chocolates or maybe flowers.  The host might share it with the guests, or keep it for another time.
• Decline an invitation if you need to. It is not rude to politely decline an invitation in Western cultures. As long as you give the host plenty of advance warning that you cannot go. It is actually rude to not respond, or imply you will go but not attend! If you have accepted, you should attend the event.
• Offer to help clear up before you leave at the end of the night (for a dinner party or BBQ, for example). This applies to men and women! 

DON'T

• Bring an extra person unexpectedly. This applies especially to smaller events. Usually the invitation will state the names of who is invited. If you have to bring an extra person, check if it is OK with the host well in advance.
• Suggest that everyone does something else that is different from the host's invitation! For example, if you've been invited to a BBQ at home, don't suggest everyone goes to a fairground down the road instead! (This has happened a couple of times in Asia!)

Birthdays: usually it's OK to just bring the chocolates, wine or flowers for a normal dinner party. If the birthday is at a bar, it is custom to buy the host a drink instead.

If You're The Host 

DO  

• Provide enough food for everybody, and as much alcohol / drinks as you can. For events at home, hopefully the guests will bring some drinks to help out. (See above) The goal is that guests should never go hungry or thirsty! 
• Ask regarding any dietary requirements in advance, if you are cooking for a dinner party. Some guests might be vegetarian, for example, or have a food allergy, or follow religions banning certain meats. If you are able to accommodate some of these, it will probably be appreciated :)

DON'T

• Charge guests any fee for a private event!!! Never never never! (And this does happen with some home parties and BBQs in Asia - sometimes even without a mention of it on the invite!) The role of the host in Western cultures is to provide everything for your guests - ie hospitality. No money should ever change hands, and it is beyond rude to ask for any. Even if a costly venue has been hired, the host will cover those costs him/herself. If you cannot afford the event, don't hold one. (Or opt for a cheap / informal picnic or something instead!)

***
 

Photo credits: 1950's dinner party - kitschycuisine.com; 1950's BBQ  - Pinterest.

(Apols for dodgy layout, again. Blogger doing its usual things... :/ )

Nosh of the Day: houjicha soft-serve, houjicha.. and soft-serve

Yum! As some of you already know, I'm slightly obsessed with Japanese desserts, and matcha (green tea) products in particular. Japanese desserts have a tendency to be less sweet than Western desserts - sometimes even neutral, or a bit bitter. And this comes into play pretty well when tea is used as the flavouring. 

Houjicha (or hojicha) is actually green tea, which has been roasted differently - so it's no longer green, and has a more bitter, smoky, woody, flavour. And my favourite matcha outlet in Singapore, Kyoto's 'Tsujiri', has just introduced a soft-serve ice cream* made from it. 

I chose to add genmai (crunchy toasted rice) as a topping to mine.

The Verdict: 
Very nice! OK, if you're expecting a sweet, Ben & Jerry's type experience, you won't get it. This is a smooth, creamy dish - with that delicate bitter, woody, smoky flavour. Unusual for a Western palette, perhaps, but the overall experience feels (and probably is) a lot healthier! I particularly love genmai, btw - they are not sweet either, but neutral / smoky and very crisp. A much more natural option from all the chemically treated and coloured toppings you might find at another ice cream outlet.

* Soft-serve I think comes from an American idea, but seems to be a very popular form of ice cream in Japan. It is extremely smooth, creamy, ice-cream served out of a 'piping machine'. In the UK, the nearest thing would be 'Mr Whippy' or similar products - which are smooth and creamy (and usually vanilla flavoured) but also renowned for being unnatural and a bit like fast food. A famous UK soft-serve snack would be the '99' or '99 Flake' - which adds a Cadbury's chocolate flake to the cone.

A UK '99' ice cream

Japanese soft-serve is often a lot more authentic / natural, and it comes in more flavours. I know some outlets pride themselves on selecting exactly the best kinds of fresh milk and ingredients to make their soft-serve, and the experience is quite different from the British one! 

For Japanese soft-serve, visit: http://tsujiri-global.com/ 

And FYI, since I'm so obsessed with Tsujiri - there is now an outlet in London, on Soho's Rupert Street, for any Brits wishing to try out matcha drinks and pudds :)