Distribution of the custom of rice porridge in green tea in Gifu, Aichi, Hyogo, Okayama, Hiroshima, and Tokushima prefectures

Abstract

  A survey was conducted with people aged 50 or older on the custom and literature of green tea rice porridge in Gifu, Aichi, Hyogo, Okayama, Hiroshima, and Tokushima prefectures from 2003 to 2005. A literature survey was also conducted on the custom. The surveys found the following :
(1) The custom of green tea rice porridge was not found either in Gifu prefecture. Also, it was seldom found popular in Aichi, Hyogo, Okayama, Hiroshima, or Tokushima prefecture.
(2) Rice porridge with green tea was had for breakfast. Sweet potatoes were very popular ingredients in rice porridge with green tea. This custom was also abserved Wakayama, Nara, Osaka, Kyoto, Shiga, Mie, Saga, Shimane and Yamaguchi prefectures.
(3) A common name for rice porridge with green tea was “Chagai” or “Chagayu” whose frequency of use was the highest in all prefectures surveyed. This similar tendency was observed in Osaka, Kyoto, Shiga, Mie, Shimane and Yamaguchi prefectures.