Alluring Japanese sweets make the perfect gifts from Japan! (1/2)
Japanese sweets are popular gifts not only within Japan, but for tourists from abroad as well. As the charm of Japanese sweets extends their appearance as well, it's tempting to choose a beautiful treasure that will charm its recipient. In the first half of this feature, we will introduce new-age Japanese sweets that have style and originality. We have carefully selected items with a focus not only on flavor, but also on shelf life!
Shelf Life: 30 days from production date
"Rakugan," a traditional dried candy made of embossed sugar, has a somewhat subdued presence in modern Japan. However, "Herbal Rakugan," produced by the up-and-coming creative Japanese sweets unit "wagashi asobi," is the exception, with a great number of fans comprising men and women of all ages.
From left, "green tea," "chamomile," "rosemary," "yuzu," "strawberry," "hibiscus"; each contains 4 pieces (350 yen each).
As fine-grained powdered sugar is carefully produced, the rakugan simply melts in your mouth. And you'll find yourself grinning at the refreshing herbal aroma that spreads as the rakugan melts! We would like to remove our hats to wagashi asobi for having the insight to conceal such aroma inside rakugan. The gentle colors and shapes are also spot-on for this kind of confection. For these lovely Japanese sweets, we'd like you to savor each individual piece!
"Dried Fruit Yokan" (2,100 yen). Take note of the refined package as well.
We recommend this, too!
"Dried Fruit Yokan"
Shelf life: 15 days from production date
This is yokan (red bean jelly) filled with lots of rum-pickled figs, strawberries, and walnuts. The smooth, elegant sweetness of the red bean paste and the tartness of the fruits are a fantastic combination! This Japanese sweet has also become a sensation, and goes well with items such as wine, cheese, and baguettes.
wagashi asobi
1-31-1-101 Kamiikedai, Ota-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-3748-3539
Store Hours: 10 AM - 5 PM
No Set Holidays
http://wagashi-asobi.com/
For reference: Here is a nearby hotel.
Shelf Life: 90 days from production date
"Beika" (rice confections) are standard Japanese sweets that use rice. "Senbei" (rice crackers) and "arare" (cubic rice crackers) are representative examples, and for most people, the term brings to mind low-key colors such as the brown of soy sauce or the black of seaweed. The popular product "maro," from "JUKKA," a brand launched by the established beika shop "TOYOSU," is rejuvenating beika's image.
This is the "maro assortment" (1,260 yen), which contains the standard "wasanbon" (refined sugar) and "strawberry" flavors, along with the addition of the limited time "green tea" and "mango" flavors.
You'll surely be tempted to choose a beautiful plate to serve these on.
When removing these sweets from their box, you are greeted with effortlessly cute roundness and vivid colors. Just as the stylish appearance is something you'd never expect from beika, the flavor is novel as well. Upon putting a crimson, strawberry-flavored maro into your mouth, it gently melts while leaving behind a refreshing tartness, and afterward the sweetness of the rice gradually comes on, along with a sense of chewiness. Whatever flavor you partake in, you get the impression that the flavor and texture were thoroughly thought out. By all means, try out these new-age beika, which shine with the technique of an established shop!
From left, "tomato" (368 yen), "cheese" (420 yen), and "charcoal" (368 yen).
We recommend this, too!
"haku"
Shelf life: 120 days from production date
If you're selecting a gift for someone who isn't fond of sweets, look no further. These are a type of senbei, one of the representative examples of beika, but they are unbelievably thin and light, with a novel, crisp texture. The flavor variation is also charming, and includes "tomato," "cheese," and "charcoal"--rare flavors for beika.
JUKKA Aoyama Store
5-9-8 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-3498-0188
Store Hours: Monday to Saturday 10 AM - 8 PM; Sunday and Holidays 10 AM - 6 PM
Set Holiday: January 1-3
http://jukka.toyosu.co.jp/
Shelf life: 120 days from production date
"Monaka" (wafer cakes with bean paste) are alluring for their combination of a light, crispy rice cake shell and moist bean paste. The featured product, "Ku," is a type of monaka that has been stylishly produced through a collaboration between the established Japanese sweet shop "kasho rokube" from Shiga and a popular interior designer. It is an ambitious product that opens up new possibilities for Japanese sweets while leveraging traditional techniques.
From front, "sakura-an" (cherry blossom bean paste), "yomogi" (Japanese mugwort), "koshi-an" (strained bean paste), and "black sesame" (220 yen each).
The "Ku Crystal" (1,000 yen), a beautifully packaged set with 4 flavors, is perfect as a gift.
The donut-shaped form, as well as the exquisite coloring of the shell and the bean paste, form a unique deliciousness that set it apart from both Japanese and Western sweets that have come before. This Japanese sweet makes a great gift for design-oriented individuals. The separate airtight packaging for the shells and bean paste are also features that make it suitable as a gift. These features allow the recipient to enjoy the crispness of the shell and the smooth texture of the bean paste at any time. While the appearance may be novel, the flavor has the authenticity one would expect from an established shop.
kasho rokube - ecute Tokyo Store
1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Inside Tokyo Station (JR East) South Court 1F
Phone: 03-3211-8926
Store Hours: Monday - Saturday 8 AM - 10 PM; Sunday and Holidays 8 AM - 8 PM
No Holidays
http://www.rokube.co.jp/
*The shelf life listed refers to the number of days from the production date in all instances. In practice, this may shorten depending upon the timing of the production and purchase.
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