Category: Other
2011
06.26

Cool Off Treat

warabi

Cool kudzu wagashi is standard Japanese confection for summer season.

The tricolore fillings are made from red bean paste and bean paste flavored with apricot and citrus puree.
These are coated with translucent kudzu and bracken dough which is sticky like mochi.

In eastern Japan, this summer is hotter than usual due to the conservation of electricity.
Cold treats are going to help us keep off the summer heat!

Ingredients:Sugar, kidney beans, red beans, malt sugar, apricot puree, Konatsu citrus puree, starch, starch syrup, Konatsu citrus juice, bracken flour, kudzu flour, liqueur, agar-agar

Shop’s website:
Ginza Kanra’s homepage (Japanese)
Ginza Kanra’s homepage (English translated by Google)


2011
04.25

Sweet Cherry Blossom

This lovely spring confection is called “Yakishigure” that I got for a souvenir in Yokohama.
The ingredients are very simple and it tastes softly sweet.

yakishigure

yakishigure

package

Ingredients:Sugar, red bean,…etc.
I hardly keep its ingredients in my mind since I had this several months ago…

Shop’s website:
Koroan’s homepage (Japanese)


2011
02.12

Simple Sweet Potato Confection

kurikinton

package

That’s all about it!

Ingredients:
Sweet potato, sugar, ager

Shop’s website:
Kinokuniya’s homepage (Japanese)
Kinokuniya’s homepage (English translated by Google)


2010
12.22

Treat for the Winter Soltice

yuzu treat

December 22nd is the day of the winter soltice.

In Japan, bathing with yuzu (Japanese citron) on the winter soltice is a popular custom.
The whole fruits are floated in the hot water of the bath, releasing their characteristically strong aroma.
The ‘yuzuyu,’ or yuzu bath, is believed to guard against colds, warm the body, and relax the mind.
We also eat pumpkin on the same day for the same reasons.

This wagashi is made by using a whole yuzu, preserved in syrup.
It’s hollowed out and the skin is filled with sweet red bean paste.

Yuzu is rareley served as food on the day, but I posted this for my yuzzy feeling :)

package

Ingredients:
Yuzu, syrup, red bean, kudzu starch, ager, salt

Shop’s website:
Saiundo’s homepage (Japanese)
Saiundo’s homepage (English translated by Google)


2010
11.28

Tiny Chestnuts

chestnut wagashi

This is special wagashi only offered during autumn season.
It looks just like a chestnut (very cute, isn’t it?) and a little chestnut is actually filled inside!
Outside is coated with kudzu starch to make red bean paste glossy.

chestnut wagashi in half

Ingredients:
Sugar, red bean paste, chestnut, kudzu starch, etc

Shop’s website:
Sentaro’s homepage (Japanese)
Sentaro’s homepage (English translated by Google)