The Honorable O

In Japanese, many foods are said with an "O" preceding it. It is the honorific "O" - ogohan (rice), ocha (tea), omanju (a cooky like sweet snack filled with red bean paste). My special "O" goes to ryokucha. Oryokucha is a type of green tea that has the benefits of easing allergies and hay fever.

My allergies in Japan are terrible - constant sneezing and runny nose, dry itchy and puffy eyes. I drink 6-9 cups of oryokucha a day and it practically eliminates my symptoms. Oryokucha is high in antioxidants and vitamins A and C.

No one says "bless you" in Japan when someone sneezes. A sneeze is ignored. Since I do a lot of sneezing due to my allergies, it took me a while to get used to not receiving so many blessings. No matter. The blessings should go to oryokucha anyway for its many benefits.