It will soon be that time again and hanami will be celebrated in Japan - a festival whose name literally translates as «looking at blossoms».
For around two weeks, people eat, drink and celebrate the beauty and transience of life together with friends, family and colleagues under the blossoming cherry trees.

HANAMI CITY - The picnic under Zurich's cherry trees
As spring awakens, Zurich's more than 1000 Japanese cherry trees begin to blossom - and a beautiful activity blossoms with them!

The Harubaru Copy Club - an association that explores the diversity of Japanese cuisine through various events and projects - has mapped out all the Japanese cherry trees in the city of Zurich on an online, interactive Zurich Hanami Map in 2021. This helps you find the perfect spot for your personal hanami picnic.

And in keeping with this, the makers of HANAMI CITY are preparing plump Bentō boxes for you again this year, which can be picked up from April 4 to 13, 2024.
Back again, of course, is shizuku's small Cup Sake Yuki Otoko - a round, powdery, fresh as well as vivid Junmai for on-the-go enjoyment.

Be on time!
The picnic boxes are produced only on pre-order and in limited numbers. Order deadline is on Monday, March 25, 2024!

March 1, 2024

Monocle was launched in 2007 as a magazine and digital venture in London and today has headquarters, bureaux, shops and radio studios in Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Toronto, Tokyo and Zurich.

At the Monocle Shop & Café in Zurich, you'll find combined everything that’s best about Monocle. While the editors report on global affairs, business, culture or design, you are invited for a coffee or an aperitif on the terrace, you can browse through the shop or keep up to date with a hand-picked selection of newspapers & magazines.
And soon there will be a celebration again and you are invited...

shizuku at Monocle's Hanami Market
To coincide with the start of the cherry blossom season, Monocle is once again organizing a small, fine Japanese market this year.
Stop by and enjoy a selection of Japanese food & drinks as well as various market stalls of selected Japanese brands.
shizuku is also invited to this beautiful spring happening again and is happy to treat you this Saturday with a lively & fruity-fresh tasting of premium sake and Japanese liqueurs (including direct sales).

We are looking forward to your visit!

March 1, 2024

A trip to the local breweries across the island nation, visiting the sake paradise of Japan.

We are happy to share our shizuku no nikki (= diary) drop by drop with you, with recommendations on the respective treasures that the artists brew for you with tradition, pride and passion...

雫の日記 | shizuku no nikki 🇯🇵
We start with a visit to Nakashima in the mountainous region of Gifu Prefecture.
The small family brewery has been brewing incredibly sophisticated and high-quality sake for over 300 years - an art that you can recognize and enjoy in these drops.

HANDCRAFTED SAKE TO ITS FULLEST!
• The Kozaemon Akaiwa Omachi | A full-bodied & velvety Junmai Daiginjo
• The Kozaemon Kimoto Junmai | Aromatic & flavorful a stunner
• The Kozaemon Yamahai Junmai | A taste expedition thanks to lots of umami
• The Kozaemon Sakura Nama | Uniquely pasteurized especially fresh & lively
• The Kabosu no Susume | The light, fruity Junmai with hand-pressed Kabosu juice

‚I am very happy to be part of the Kozaemon family. Introduced to me through a good friend from highschool time in Nagoya I am proud to bring the joy of these unique nihonshu to my connoisseurs in Switzerland 🙏🏼‘, Marc Nydegger.

Discover these works of art from Mizunami/Gifu and enjoy your kanpai!

February 24, 2024

It will be that time again in a month.
And like us, Valentine's Day is also celebrated in Japan, just a little differently...

Sweets for Valentine's Day & White Day
While in Switzerland it is mainly the ladies who are spoiled with flowers, jewelry or romantic dates, on February 14, Japanese women traditionally give their husbands as well as their male acquaintances and work colleagues chocolates and pralines, especially handmade ones.
The men only become active a month later and return their affection on Japanese White Day - the 'answer day' - generously and traditionally symbolically with white chocolate.

The sweet drops for the moment for two
So sweet for both of them. And as we are more than spoiled by the quality of Swiss chocolate, shizuku likes to surprise you with lovely drop recommendations for your shared moment of pleasure that are not just reminiscent of chocolate. Happy Valentine's Day...

... with a beautiful cocoa note of Daiginjo Hiyashibori
This strong premium sake pampers with a fruity bouquet, followed by sweet and tangy notes and is reminiscent of forest and black chocolate.

... with the pleasant sweetness of Shirayuki Akafuji
This accessible Junmai enchants with lovely notes of white chocolate, caramel and vanilla, combined with a little citrus fruit and a rather dry finish.

... with a fruity elegance from The Shunnouten
This elegant & fresh premium sake is creamy, smooth & round on the palate. With a crisp & pure umami flavour, a nice, drinkable Junmai Daiginjo, even for sake beginners.

... with a sweet lightness from Iku's Shiro
This well going Junmai Daiginjo is reminiscent of juicy green apples, pears, vanilla pods, white chocolate & elderberry and, at just 9% by volume, is ideal as an aperitif or dessert wine.

... with the sweet digéstif Shirayuki Edo Genroku
Fermented in wooden barrels (taru), this strong and flattering Junmai surprises with its salty nose and sweet palate. Complex & multi-layered, with a long, salty-sweet veil - the perfect dessert.

January 14, 2024

When it smells exotic in winter & the colors glow in the dark, he's at work...

MEIKEL'S KITCHEN by shizuku - Kanpai to the EXOTIC NIGHT!

He loves food, he loves cooking and he enjoys sake.
Meikel - Graphic Designer, DJ and Sake Addict - tries out, combines and discovers.

This time: A juicy fried parrotfish, served with an exotic-fruity, warm carrot-pepperoni-persimmon-sauce. On top some fresh jalapeños, crunchy pepperoni cubes and sage butter - that's it.
Aside: The accessible Shirayuki Akafuji. With notes of white chocolate, caramel & vanilla, combined with a little citrus fruit, this round and sweetish Junmai delights from the refreshing nose to the rather dry finish.

Culinary conclusion: 'Close your eyes, open your mouth and taste a touch of Asia. That's exactly what happens here', enthuses Meikel. 'From the firm, juicy fish to the honeyed sweetness of the Asian persimmon plum to the fresh sage and a light, exciting spiciness, everything is included.
And the Akafuji in the sake glass is once again flattering and complements the exotic-fruity moment beautifully. A wonderful, colorful and tasty dish - with a welcome exotic touch.'

As simple. As good. MEIKEL'S KITCHEN by shizuku.
Please discover more culinary recommendations on Instagram with #shizuku_ch and #meikelskitchen or in our section 'recipes'.

January 5, 2024

In winter, we raise the temperature and pour a heart-warming drink!

Because drinking a nihonshu warmed up and discovering the resulting aromas and flavours anew is not only fun, but also warms the sake heart. We are happy to recommend different drops, which offer an enjoyable experience from cool to room temperature to hot. Let's warm up...

The Inatahime Ryokan | Round from 10-50°C
Slightly salty, even leathery on the nose, this rather dry sake surprises with aromas of lime blossom, soja, bitter chocolate, coffee, tobacco and nutmeg. And this true classic scores especially with hearty & cheesy dishes such as fondue & raclette.

The Asahimai Junmai| Smooth from 10-50°C
This velvety, full-bodied Junmai will flatter any sake fan. Smooth, with a sweet note and long-lasting finish, this premium sake made from organic rice delights subtly aromatic, with a fresh, minty acidity.

The Kuzuryu Ippin | Crisp and spicy from 10-45°C
Slightly sweet, fruity and with a soft texture, this elegant nihonshu crisp-spicy delights on the palate and, with its fair amount of umami, is also an exciting pairing partner to autumnal, more flavourful dishes.

The Goriki Junmai| Powerfully aromatic from 15-50°C
Tangy, oily, smoky and with lots of umami you will be spoiled with this exciting food companion. Intense notes of paprika, olive tapenade and smoked ham make this sake an aromatic experience even at room temperature.

The Kozaemon Yamahai Junmai| Taste expedition from 10-45°C
Brewed according to the traditional yamahai method, this nihonshu convinces with intense, earthy flavours and makes literally sake hungry. For from cheesy to floral to aromatic-fiery, this drop offers a truly veritable adventure...

The Miyabi | Strong sake art from 15-45°C
This intense Tokubetsu Junmai - brewed according to the traditional kimoto method - is quickly reminiscent of a stone fruit brandy. Earthy, dry and pleasantly sweet on the palate, this Japanese drop is an exciting food companion to meat dishes and your upcoming raclette.

January 1, 2024

Turn on the Öfeli and melt away...
Enjoy the Swiss raclette fun dropped by Japan.

The Sake Raclette - 'The best raclette ever'
Sake-food pairings are our passion. But the feedback - since the launch (in June 2020) - always makes us melt too!

'Oooh, that was huge!!! Me and my friends are huge fans of this Sake Raclette!'

'An experience. The cheese as such is already very fine, melts very nicely and without excessive fat leakage. A super idea very well implemented.'

'Very delicious. Round, fine, a sweetish note. So good that it really doesn't need any spices or anything. Of all the raclette creations one of the most exciting and finest. A nice addition to any assorted cheese plate.'

Swiss raclette refined with Japanese rice wine
Together with Käserei Camenzind we have continued to develope...
The raclette cheese has been matured for several months and soaked in a strong, intensive Junmai - brewed according to the traditional kimoto method - and literally refined.
The result is an incredibly mild, slightly sweet raclette cheese with a wonderful umami note.

So enjoy with us! Please place your order today because 'it has while it lasts'
... CHF 43.00 / kg
... Portions approx. 400g - 500g, vacuum-packed
... Available at shizuku Store or by e-mail to info@shizuku.ch
... Available at Amstad Chäslädeli (besides over 30 other raclette varieties)

And discover our delicious sake recommendations as the ideal accompaniment right away.
Good appetite & kanpai!

January 1, 2024