review no32 cocogarden

Stop what you’re doing for I have just stumbled upon the sole reason I may decide to stay in Japan for the entirety of my life. Yes, forever. Nestled deep within the picturesque woods of rural Japan, Cocogarden is every foodie’s haven.

First off, you know it’s gonna be good when you arrive at 9.45, the place doesn’t even open until 10am and there’s already the biggest line you have ever seen, ever, waiting to get inside.

Pancakes
Gelato
Shu cream (Japanese custard filled cream puffs)
Smoothies
Partfaits
Coffee
and more
but wait for it…
Organic.
Yes, it’s all organic and of the highest quality so oh my goodness, I can’t even.

In addition to mouthwateringly fluffy pancakes, my favourite details included the tall glass windows (see above) with a great view onto the mountains, their extensive gift shop (filled with endless goodies: puddings, tarts and cakes), the gelato caravan out front (which has asparagus gelato, yes asparagus) and the staff’s uniform!

For more info, head to their website here.

THANK ME LATER!

tropical blueberry smoothie (vegan, sugar, gluten and dairy free)

I am just sitting here, in my apartment, sweating. Humidity is gross. HELP ME.

To combat Japan’s intense heat, I’ve decided to surpass this summer by living on an entirely smoothie-bowl diet. Just kidding – not really. This one’s healthy as (just refer to title), delicious and real prudddy!

1 cup unsweetened light coconut milk
1/2 cup frozen tropical fruit
1 frozen banana

topping:
2 tbsp all-natural canned blueberries
1 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut

Whizz together all smoothie ingredients in a blender until smooth – you may need to add a little extra milk…

To finish, decorate with blueberries and shredded coconut in an instagram-worthy fashion.

Enjoy mindfully, sitting down with a SPOON. This is because many smoothie drinks are packed with so much goodness and nutrition that they’re actual meals in themselves. So, treat them that way and avoid over eating. Also, using a spoon aids chewing and thus better digestion. In addition, sitting down and mindfully enjoying a smoothie bowl as a meal rather than sipping a smoothie drink on the go, keeps us feeling fuller and more satisfied for longer.