About food in Japan

Newly developed Japan's foods!

Last friday Gourmet & Dining Style Show 2011 Autumn was taken place in Tokyo. It is a trade show for professional food & drink buyers to seek for new products. 

At the site, under the project titled "Re-discover Japan's good products" (ニッポンのいいもの再発見！), newly developped local food products made with traditional ingredients are introduced by local small size producers across Japan. Today we picked up two products which we liked the most among these from "Re-discover Japan's good products".

 

Jo-con (醲献), Japanese sake

It is condensed Japanese sake made from rice in Ueda-city, Nagano prefecture. It contains 38% alcohol, unusually high rate, more than double companred with normal sake. The richness must attract alcohol lovers, as whisky or brandy do. It is good to have it on the rocks. 

Another point to note is..., unlike normal fresh sake, it can be kept over a year. It will be aged day by day like vintage wine and you can enjoy different taste at each stage.  

For international travelers, the small bottle of 100ml at a reasonable price Yen1500 per bottle must be a good souvenir item to bring back to your country. 

Go to Jo-con facebook site (Japanese)

Official site: http://www.jo-con.jp

 

Awajishima Rusk (淡路島ラスク)

Rusk is originally Wester style product but different versions of it are available in some places in Japan. This is one of them from Awajishima, Hyogo prefecture.

Awajishima rusk offers 3 different kinds of flavor; onion, local citrus Naruto orange and honey, all are ingredient harvested on the island. Onion rusk is salty and maybe good as snack with beer, while other two have tender sweet flavor. Each of them surely has each different vivid character but they are never too strong. It must be a good souvenir of Awaji island. 

Official site (Japanese): http://www.m-awaji.jp/onion/rask.html

 

Although we are not able to find them easily so far, we are looking forward to seeing these nice products attacting many of both Japanese and interenational clients soon

Local specialties of Tohoku (東北)

It is five months passed after the very sad narutal disaster in Japan. We keep supporting to the damaged region in many ways even under concern about radioactive pollution. One of the easiest way to support for recovering is to buy and have products from the affected region.

Here we would like to list-up excellent local specialties from Tohoku (東北) that we got　within the last five months. Some of them are not always available especially out of the region. We just want to tell you that these food are "the tip of the iceberg" and that Tohoku region is a gold mine of fantastic Japanese food such as rice, seafood, meat and fruites.

 

<Ekiben (box meal on train)>

Seafood lunch box that I got at Hachinohe (八戸) station, Aomori prefecture.

Sea urchin (雲丹, uni) and salmon roe (イクラ, ikura), both from the port of Hachinohe, are on top of rice. 

 

<Noodle>

Yokote Yakisoba (横手焼きそば, Yokote fried noodle) is recognized as one of the greatest local fried noodle of Japan and also as "the king of B-grade gourmet (Ｂ級グルメ) ". Fried egg on top of noodle is a unique point of Yokote Yakisoba. Luckly I had it at an event held in Tokyo, while it is normally available only in the origin city, Yokote, Akita prefecture. 

 

 "Amattarenna! Udon"(甘ったれんな！うどん)

The self-making udon noodle set has very unusual name "Don't be spoiled! udon".

Takano Honten(高野本店), the noodle producer based in Iwate prefecture, expressed so from the hot-chilli and sasame sauce in which noodle is to be dipped, partly takig also phonetic equivalent of sweet sauce (amai tare). 

<Sake (Japanese rice wine)>

Tohoku is one of major origin of Japanese alcohol "sake" (日本酒) breweries. 

Asabiraki (あさ開) from Morioka (盛岡), Iwate prefecture with overe a century history of sake brewering is getting high reputations and awards from many expert  or commercial organizations for its fine and high quality Sake. Especially this version "Nama Genshu" (生原酒, raw, non-heated and original liqud only, not blended with water) is limited number production and very delicate. Of course it was very nice with fresh and fruity flavour.

It's a pitty we could not bring the scent to you... 

 

<Sweet and snack>

Hagino Tsuki (萩の月, "The Moon in Hagi", custurd cake) is one of the most popular specialty sweet in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture. The full-moon shaped cake is named after the beautiful scenery in the city, Japanese bush clover (Hagi) and the full moon in the sky. The cake is less oil and its filling is rich in egg york. That is the reason many Japanese appreciate it!

 

Nanbu Senbei (南部せんべい) is salty cracker made in Hachinohe (八戸), Aomori prefecture. Unlike typical Japanese cracker, made from rice, Nanbu Senbei's main ingredient is wheat. The most common ones are baked with black sesame seeds or peanuts. 

My interesting finding is a bit different version of Nanbu senbei. It is arranged with butter and as the result, it is more like Western style cookie. But the taste is still plain and healther than cookie.

Tohoku including Fukushima is still and will be Japan's beautiful countrside with deep green woods on mountains, rice paddies and fine local specialities from both mountains and ocean.

 

In Tokyo, we can get some food products from Tohoku at these stores, for examples.

Fukushima Tokyo Yaesu tourism and exchange house (福島八重洲観光交流会館)

*Five minutes walk from JR Tokyo Station

Address: 2-6-21 Yaesu, Chuo-ku, Tokto

大きな地図で見る

 

Iwate Ginga Plaza (いわて銀河プラザ)

*Ten minutes walk from Ginza crossing towards Tsukiji direction

Address: 5-15-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

大きな地図で見る

 

Miyagi Hometown Plaza (宮城ふるさとプラザ)

A few minutes walk from Ikebukuro station. It has information in English. Download from here.

Address: 1-2-2 Higashi Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

大きな地図で見る

 

Aomori Tokusanhin Center (青森特産品センター)

Five minutes walk from Hacchobori or 15 minutes walk from Ginza

Address: 1-3-9 Shintomi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

大きな地図で見る

Hot pepper cookie by Royce Ishigaki (島とうがらしクッキー, ロイズ石垣)

You may know Okinawa prefecture, the southernmost rich-nature islands region in Japan, for the beautiful beaches, Churaumi aquarium or unique folk culture. Recently our mind was hit by the news that The Ritz Carlton Hotel will open its first resort property in Japan in Okinawa main island next spring. 

For us, Japanese people, Okinawa is one of the most popular destination for summer vacation, which arracts any kind of travellers from family with young kids to romantic honeymooners.

An interesting sweets (or snack?) has been reported to us from Ishigaki Island.

It is called "Shima togarashi cookie" (島とうがらしクッキー, Island-hotpepper cookie).

Hot pepper in cookie?!  Seems to be "Yes" as red pepper picture is depicted on the package box as well as the words "13% included hot pepper made in Okinawa". 

The other thing to be mentioned for the cookie is that it is made by a company called "Royce Ishigaki". It is a subsidiary of the most known chocolate producer in Hokkaido "Royce Confect". Royce founded its subsidiary for cacao tree cultivation on the far south island, at another edge of Japan, four years ago. 

Hot pepper cookie sounds strange, while cookie by Royce brings us high expectation...

As it opens the small pack, it is nothing change from ordinary one.

Let's try it.

Uhhnnnn...

 

 

Firstly It is rich in cheese flavor. As per the official site, two kinds of cheese Edam and Camembert are used for it. After the cheese flavor, I felt spicy hot pepper in my mouth. A bit hot and spicySurely hot pepper can be interestingly recognized in the cookie. As snack, it must be matched with chilly beer. It is well-arranged, good souvenir for Ishigaki and Okinawa islands. 

 

Products by Royce Ishigaki, including Hot pepper cookie, are available at major souvenir shops on the Ishigaki Island as well as some stores at Okinawa-Naha Airport, otherwise online store by the company.

Royce Ishigaki home page (Japanese version only) 

 http://shop.royce-ishigakijima.com 

 

Royce Confect (English) 

http://www.e-royce.com/english/index.html

 

Hot pepper cookie is available at souvenir shops in these hotels in Ishigaki island. 

ＡＮＡインターコンチネンタル石垣リゾート　＜石垣島＞

ホテル日航八重山　＜石垣島＞

軽井沢倶楽部　ホテル石垣島　＜石垣島＞

石垣リゾート　グランヴィリオホテル（ルートイングループ）　＜石垣島＞

On other islands

小浜島リゾート＆スパ　ニラカナイ＜小浜島＞（南西楽園ツーリスト提供）

ホテル日航アリビラ

ホテルＪＡＬシティ那覇

Mt. Takao (高尾山), what to eat there? - Japanese traditional sweets at Yukido (有喜堂)

Following my previous post about Mountain Takao area, here I am introducing Japanese sweets shop for getting souvenir of Mt. Takao and for taking a break with sweet desert after your exciting walking tour in nature.

Since early twenty century, Yukido (有喜堂) has been serving to temples on the mountain as well as tourists visited there. It is one of the most established sweets maker house in the area.

Yukido has two properties in Takaosanguchi (the gateway for Mt. Takao); one which is the main store, close to the railway station along the National Road and another on the way to Cable and Lift stations. Both buildings are in traditional Japanese style with cafe space and they are an oasis of mountain climbers in cosy atmosphere with wooden décor.  

 

Let's try Japanese traditional style desserts, green tea or coffee at the cafe or get "iconic"-souvenir Takao Manju (steamed buns) or Takao Senbei (cookies in shape of maple leaf).

 

My souvenir shopping are Takao Senbei and Yokan (羊羹, beans paste cake) with marrons.

 

 

Related post: Mt. Takao (高尾山), what to eat there? - Tororo Soba (とろろそば)

Shop name: Yukido (有喜堂)

Address: 

<Main store> 2302 Takao-Machi, Hachioji-city, Tokyo

大きな地図で見る

 

<Kanmi (甘味) store> 2478 Takao-Machi, Hachioji-city, Tokyo

大きな地図で見る

 

Accommodations in the area

 

京王プラザホテル八王子

Nara-zuke sable (奈良漬サブレ)

I got an interesting cookies as souvenir from Nara (奈良), the ancient capital of Japan over a thousand years ago. 

 

The package looks like a "normal" chocolate chip cookies, apart from the title on the box. It is written "Nara-zuke sable (奈良漬サブレ). Nara-zuke (奈良漬) is local speciality pickles of Nara (奈良).The vegetable pickles flavoured with sake kasu (酒粕, sake lees) actually has long history and it was recognized on a commerce document of 1300 years ago. 

I have been curious how they can make sable (cookies) with pickles?!

As shown on the package, Nara-zuke sable is produced under collaboration between sweets making school "Donner Du Gateau" and the academic institution Nara Women's University. Hoping that the local speciality pickles is widely introduced and is taken by many people, these two organizations developed French style cookies (sable) by taking advantage of alcohol, sweetness and salt ingredients brought from Nara-zuke.  

The one I had also includes ginger (しょうが, shoga). 

Having a piece of the sable, if I say, the taste is rather close to raisin cookies which often flavoured with rum and grapes. No strong sake flavour remains. It can be consumed even by children, because alcohol component is disappeared already. 

That is a nice way to introduce local historic speciality to people who are unfamiliar with the local pickles

 

Nara-zuke sable is available at branches of traditional pickles store, Yamazakiya (山崎屋) in Nara and Rakuten online shop through the link below. (not exactly same with what I had, ginger included) The one is pure Nara-zuke sable, no ginger.  

奈良漬サブレ630円（8枚入り） 価格：630円（税込、送料別）

 

Yamazakiya (山崎屋), established Nara-zuke local pickles shop is located close to Kofukuji (temple, 興福寺) and National Museum in Nara. 

大きな地図で見る

Japanese green tea helps wellness

I attended the interesting event which was to promote Japanese green tea from Shizuoka (静岡).  There, a doctor works for a hospital in Kakegawa-city (掛川市), Shizuoka prefecture, presented observation by him and colleague doctors in the city and he implied cause-effect between intake green tea and wellness.

Although it is not yet proved scientifically with clear human testing, at least it is true that in Japanese cities of great consumption in green tea, citizens' average life is longer than ones of less consumption. 

Followings are some statistics and finds from medical reports and/or observations as the health enhancement effects of green tea.

Doctors' findings from residents' health conditions in Kagegawa city where residents often have tea through out a day.

- the lowest mortality of cancer, female ranked on top, male the second top among all cities in Japan with more than 100,000 populations

- City average length of life male 80.4 / female 86.4, higher than average of Japan

- while annual medical cost spent for elderly citizens is three quarters of national average cost and doctors/nurse and cancer departments much less required by the city compared with a typical city in Japan

- elderly people in the city overally look younger than actual age by 5 to 10 years

- their artery is less aged than average human in Japan

It is not specific for tea made in Kakegawa-city, as general effects, those who often have green tea is less likely to get diseases compared with others who do not have or less.

- dementia: among 1000 people of over 70's, the ratio of those have more than two cups of green tea per day is a half of those who have less

- obesity: when samples keep taking 500mg "tea catechin" per day for 8 to 12 weeks, their body mass index(BMI), visceral fat rate and abdominal girth are improved

- arterial sclerosis: those who have 5 or more cups of green tea per day got disease related cardiac blood vessels at less ratio by 30% compared with ones who have less than one cup per day

As "kakegawa study", the doctor and medical specialist team will keep their research for clearer scientific evidences with human testing data and whether there is any variance in wellness effect among different species of tea leaves. 

Kakegawa study (Japanese only)  http://www.kakegawastudy.jp/

Following the medical insights, we tasted green tea from Shizuoka prefecture and dessert specially made with green tea.

To serve nice cup of green tea...

Amount of tea leaves -  5g per person (one tea-spoonful)

Pour 70 degree C of hot water into a tea pot (that is better than boiled water)

Maccha sherbet and jelly included with vanilla ice cream

Sorry, it was exclusive for the event...

Well, where we can get green tea from Shizuoka?

It can be available even at super markets and major department stores, because over 40% of Japanese tea leaf is produced in Shizuoka prefecture. 

To be surer, at tea special shops or Shizuoka Plaza, the unit in Tokyo specialized in promoting products from Shizuoka.

Otherwise, an online shop specialized in Japanese green tea from Shizuoka, 

Chamichami.com was launched this year to introduce Japanese green tea to be enjoyed in casual manners. They source their green tea products directly from tea farmers in Shizuoka. The website is in Japanese so far but they are happy to receive orders in English and to ship them abroad from Japan.  

Chamichami.com - Japanese green tea online shop

Website: http://www.chamichami.com

Shizuoka Plaza (in Yurakucho, Tokyo)

Address: Basement 1st floor Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan, 2-10-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

*The building Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan (東京交通会館） is just in front of JR Yurakucho station. 

大きな地図で見る

 

Shizuoka prefecture reported the result of radioactivity test on tea. It shows there is no negative health influence on consumption of tea from Shizuoka.

For more information, please visit the link. 

http://www.pref.shizuoka.jp/sangyou/sa-340/20110520_test_results_radio_activity.html

 

Hello Kitty x Dominique Saibron baguette bag

OHHH, We could never imagine such a cute "baguette bag"

 

Following rusk in Hello Kitty package box, Japanese units of French high end baker, Le Boulanger Dominique Saibron offers a new product, "baguette bag" with Hello Kitty face as well as logo of "Tokyo".

 

The size is exactly for thier iconic product "Baguette Le Boulanger" (Yen 357).

On one side, an orange belt is attached so you can hold the bag easily.

On the other side, the logo Hello Kitty x Dominique Saibron appears.

 

It may be a good souvenir for people from France? so they can use on daily life it when they go back to their country. I am not sure how many times we have a chance to bring the French long-size bread, "baguette" in town of Tokyo or any other cities other than ones in France. Still I could not help but bringing a piece to a cash counter....

What do you want to put in the bag ? if it is not baguette.

 

Hello Kitty x Dominiuqe Saibron baguette bag costs each Yen525. The shop also offers a bag + "one piece of Baguette Le Bouranger" at special price Yen 735. The bread is also very nice, classic French style baquette.

It is available at units of Le Bouranger Dominique Saibron in Tokyo and their brand-new branch in Osaka. Nor is it available at the flagship boutique in Paris (77 avenue du general Leclerc 75014 Paris) nor is at Sanrio shop or Hello Kitty stores in Japan.

Several units of Le Boulanger Dominiuqe Saibron are in convenient location of central Tokyo such as...

Dominique Saibron Akasaka Main store 

Address: Akasaka Biz Tower, 5-3-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Nearest stations: Akasaka-Mitsuke, Akasaka, Tameike-Sanno

大きな地図で見る

 

 

Dominique Saibron Ginza Mitsukoshi

Address: Ginza Mitsukoshi Departmentstore, 4-6-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Nearest stations: Ginza

大きな地図で見る

 

 

Dominique Saibron Marche - Tokyo Station Keiyo Street 

Location: inside of JR Tokyo Station 1st floor "Keiyo Street"

大きな地図で見る

 

 

Dominique Saibron Marche et Cafe - Shinjuku LUMINE

Address: B2 floor Shinjuku LUMINE1, 1-1-5 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Nearest stations: Shinjuku

大きな地図で見る

 

Dominique Saibron Marche et Cafe - LUCUA Osaka

Address: LUCUA Osaka B1F, 3-1-3 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka

Nearest station: Osaka, Umeda 

大きな地図で見る

 

For other stores location, please visit Dominique Saibron official site. It is Japanese version but at least you can find google map with store name.

http://www.maxim-s.co.jp/akasaka/ds/shop.html

 

Ruri, Ginza (瑠璃, 銀座) - cafe with Japanese-Western sweets

It is rate to find a cosy space with nice cups of tea and cakes in Ginza, as many of cafe in central locations are always busy and filled with guests. Ruri (瑠璃), who's name represents "lapise lazuli" in Japanese, was newly opened in 2010 just a few blocks away from Ginza 4-chome crossing. In spite of the central location, the space and surrounding are calm and can be a good oasis while enjoying shopping at luxury boutiques.

 

What is great of Ruri is not only the modern Japanese taste interior and decorations but also sweets selections offered on the menu, Due to the cafe's owner company, Mon Chou Chou based in Osaka, Ruri cafe provides several selections of Mon Chou Chou sweets including very popular "Dojima Roll" (堂島ロール).

 

Dojima Roll (堂島ロール) is made with fresh cream from Hokkaido and wrapped with soft sponge cake. The sweet is awarded as Grand Gold Quality by Monde Selection in 2010 and it is greatly appreciated by Japanese clients. People are always making a queue line for Dojima Roll at Mon Chou Chou stand in major department stores in Tokyo. Some cases it is sold out.  

 

Here we do not have to make a long line to get a piece of cake rather we can have it with tea at the comfortable cafe space.

Maccha roll is exclusive to the cafe Ruri. Sponge cake and cream is made with maccha, Japanese green tea. Sweet beans paste is inside of maccha cream. It makes combination of Japanese traditional ingredients and Western-style roll cake.

Casuteran, natural honey is used for and served with fresh cream and sweet beans paste to dip.

Ruri has not only cafe space but also sweets gift shops attached where we can find these fancy cakes and other sweets in gift box for take away.

 

Cafe name: Ginza Ruri

Website: http://www.ginza-ruri.com

 Mon Chou Chou official home page: http://mon-chouchou.com

************* UPDATE 9th September 2013 *****************

Unfortunately Ginza Ruri Cafe was closed.

Some sweets mentioned above post, such as Dojima Roll are still available at boutiques of Patisserie Mon Cher in Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo.

************************************************************* 

Tsukiji Market (築地市場)

We visited one of the most popular tourist spots in Tokyo, Tsukiji Ｍarket (築地市場) this week. It must be one of the most exciting experience for food lovers visiting Tokyo. It is same even for us who live in Tokyo and other parts of Japan!

Here for those who has never visited there, I do summarize about Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, in most cases known as "Tsukiji fish market" internationally.

About Tsukiji Market 

- Opened in 1935 and one of eleven public wholesale markets in Tokyo.

- As fish and seafood market (魚市場, uo-ichiba), it is the biggest in the world

- Located central Tokyo, a five-minute-walk from Ginza which is known for the most luxury shopping streets.

- As already known, fishery products are mainly traded. In addition, fruits and vegetables section is also in the market.

- Basically the market is for professional buyers, retailers and restaurant operators (non-professional visitors are allowed to go into some area in the market)

- Close Sunday, national holidays and some Wednesday. Please check their business calender before your visit.

http://www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/etc/calendar/2011.html

It is in Japanese. At least the market is "OPEN" on the dates of clear or white colour box  (開市日=Market open date) as well as a few dates in blue (臨時開市日=Occasional market open date)

Current issues around Tsukiji Market

- Tokyo Metropolitan government and Tsukiji Market are planning to move the market site to a new location in Toyosu (豊洲) area due to shortage of space and decrepit buildings and facilities while increasing business demand. It is still controversy by opponents of relocation because of land safety issues remain and so on.

- Large decrease of international visitors negatively impacting on the restaurant business in Tsukiji Market and surrounding, after the big earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku (東北)and Kanto (関東) regions on 11th March 2011.

- Serious damage on one of the largest fishery business area, Sanriku coast (三陸海岸) in Tohoku by tsunami has changed supplying activities and products appear on the market

What is expected for non-professional visitors, including tourists, at Tsukiji Market

... in order to avoid disturbing the market workers and having unexpected physical injury for both visitors and suppliers

 

Area: 

Some area is restricted from non-professional visitors (tourists). Please follow the instructions by the market.

     So far Tuna Auction (maguro seri, マグロのせり) area is NOT open to visitors after the big earthquake happened on 11th March 2011.

      For the latest update, please visit its official site. Information in English is also available. 

     http://www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/tukiji_e.htm

Move around by a small group of 5 or less number of people to avoid blocking a passage.

Keep always watching your way around because the market workers are running around, often with "high-speed" motor wagon, on the site.

Photo: 

According to the blog by Tsukijiro-san, a frequent visitor of Tsukiji Market and a popular Japanese blogger who kindly showed us around the market on the day and who consulted with security staff for this issue at the market,

Tsukijiro-san's blog in Japanese: http://tsukijigo.cocolog-nifty.com

NO FLASH please, where "cutting" knives are often used by workers, it is very danger to use flash light in front of staff working with a cutting knif. 

It is allowed to take private photos in the market but please kindly pay enough attention and avoid disturbing market workers. 

Some shops or restaurants set up their own photo-taken policy. (ex: no photo please, allowed only limited occasions etc) In that case, please kindly follow their instruction. 

Uploading photos to websites or SNS is OK as long as it appears private photos and it is done under the photo-taken policy of each shop.

Other recommendations for visiting Tsukiji Market

"Dress code" - should be "compact" and "tight" (without big frill or long stole), no sandal or any kind of open-toe shoes. Big luggage should be left out from the market.

Let me post a sign boad at the entrance of Tsukiji Market for additional information. It appears clearly what is expected...

  

Time - around 9 a.m. to 10 a.m is a good time to visit the fish market. Around the time, the market is less crowded and the market workers are more relaxed toward their business closing time 11 a.m. However from around 10.a.m., some whole-sellers start clearning and closing their stands. 

If you luckily have accommodation with kitchen facility in Tokyo, it is a good idea to buy some fresh fish or seafood at the market and bring them to your base for cooking. Some whole-sellers in the market are happy to sell their products to non-professional buyers. In that case, these shops are likely to display price tags besides their products. 

We found fish from Morikoka (盛岡), Tohoku region

Jonai (場内) or Jogai (場外) ?

In addition to Tsukiji "Jonai" (場内, inside of the market), what I told as above, is basically for professional trades. On the other hand, out of Jonai area is called Jogai (場外, outside) which is a commercial area more for non-professional buyers. Even in the area, you will be able to enjoy visiting seafood or sushi restaurants and shopping around fresh food stores etc.    

While walking around in Jogai are,

we happened to find the Katsuobushi (鰹節, dried bonite) shop,

Akiyama Shouten (秋山商店),

which has been featured in the film "eatrip" introduced my previous post a year ago. 

 

Soon I will post a couple of other repors about restaurants in Tsukiji Market following this post on basic information about Tsukiji Market.

Related link: 

Tsukiji Market official site (English version)

  http://www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/tukiji_e.htm

Tsukiji Market business calendar for 2011 (Japanese version)

 http://www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/etc/calendar/2011.html

"OPEN" on the dates of clear or white colour box  (開市日=Market open date) as well as a few dates in blue (臨時開市日=Occasional market open date)

Wikipedia Tsukiji fish market http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsukiji_fish_market

Tsukijiro-san's blog in Japanese http://tsukijigo.cocolog-nifty.com

 

大きな地図で見る

Nihonshu bonbon (日本酒ボンボン) - Sake candy from Kyoto (京都)

I got an interesting souvenir from Kyoto. It is described as "Nishonshu bonbon"(日本酒ボンボン, sake candy) on the red label pasted on a white paper box. Many of us know "whiskey bonbon" or chocolate with whiskey inside. I am also curious more for the words "Jizake" (地酒, locally-brewed alcohol) and the branded sake production area "Fushimi" (伏見) in Kyoto. 

 

 

 

Opening the box, I found white frosted-glass like candies filled.

 

It is much more delicate than glass and is broken soon after being put in mouth.

 

Then "sake" liquid spreded from the sugar taste shell...

 

What an inetersting way is to taste locally brewed sake from Fushimi, Kyoto.

 

The Nihonshu bobon is made by a local pastry company called Furansuya (in Japanese, meaning "French house") based in Kyoto for decades and the sweets is sold at gift shop(s) in JR Kyoto station.  

 

Official website of Furansuya (Japanese only) http://www.furansuya.jp