People sometimes forget about reality and want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and become alone.

One day in the summer when cumulonimbus clouds swirled in the sky, I (the author) suddenly wanted to forget everything and go on a trip, and flew to Kume Island, a remote island in Okinawa Prefecture. There, I came across a ridiculously magnificent sweet. That is the earth-colored shaved ice .

Stunning earth color
Stunning earth color

A light meal shop I found by walking about 10 minutes from the hotel I was staying at. While the shaved ice menu was lined with flavors such as "strawberry," "mango," and "shikuwasa," I found the word "sugar cane" that shines remarkably.

Local light meal shop
Local light meal shop

so. Earth-colored shaved ice is shaved ice made from sugar cane . I had never eaten sugar cane shaved ice, so I ordered it right away. By the way, I heard that Okinawa's popular ice cream brand "Blue Seal" also has a sugar cane flavor, so I decided to have it topping.

A few minutes later, the sugar cane shaved ice appeared! Both the syrup and the ice cream are brown overall. Even though it's brown, it's not like chocolate or coffee. It's earthy.

Brown different from chocolate and coffee
Brown different from chocolate and coffee

When I try to eat it, it's sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ! It has a richness and depth like black honey. It has a flavor that is somewhat reminiscent of grasslands, but it does not have a green odor. This magnificent taste, in a word, the taste of the earth !

It's completely different from the usual sugar taste!
It's completely different from the usual sugar taste!

On the other hand, Blue Seal sugar cane ice cream is mellow and creamy. The natural sweetness of sugar cane is pleasantly trailing.

When you eat sugar cane ice cream on top of sugar cane shaved ice, it is super delicious. The best moment is when the two melt little by little and mix well. Shaku, trolley. A soft taste without horns spreads in the mouth. Since there is no artificial sweetness, the aftertaste is also good.

I will receive the blessings of the earth
I will receive the blessings of the earth

When you close your eyes while tasting the shaved ice, the blue sky, the clear sea, and the green sugar cane field float behind your eyelids. It was shaved ice that felt the depth of nature's bosom. Feast, Kume Island ...!

The endless blue sky and sea
The endless blue sky and sea

Noisy, noisy ...
Noisy, noisy ...

By the way, according to Rakuten, Kumejima was ranked 4th in the "Summer 2014, ranking of remote islands that have soared in popularity." If you forget your work or study and want to go on a trip, why don't you come visit us? Beautiful nature, warm people, and delicious food will surely welcome you.

Let's do our best again from next week
Let's do our best again from next week