Kofukudo has been selling delicious and elegant Japanese sweets for over 140 years. From June 14, they will release a new season-limited flavour of their popular *daifuku. The season-limited sweet will be called Sakuranbo Daifuku. (Cherry Daifuku).
*Daifuku is a type of round, sweet mochi dough that is traditionally filled with a sweet filling such as red bean paste.
Cherry Daifuku: ￥270 each (after tax)
These daifuku are made using the seasonal Sato Nishiki cherries which are at their peak harvest time in June. This means that this is the only season where you can truly enjoy the beautiful flavour of this cherry. After extensive trial and error, a wonderfully balanced daifuku was created. The white bean jam has a mild sweet scent of cherry. Paying the slightest attention to detail, the sweet was carefully crafted in order to fully extract the fresh and juicy flavour of the cherries whilst preserving their high quality sweetness. A cherry casually sits on top of the white mochi of the daifuku. You just won’t be able to resist taking pictures of this cute treat.
This is perfect to set out on the dining table at a party. These seasonal sweet treats would also make the perfect gift when visiting a friend.
Take a light bite of luxurious daifuku to experience the best of traditional Japanese sweets.
Information
Sakuranbo Cherry Daifuku
Price: ￥270 each (after tax)
※ This product may not be available at all Kofukudo shops. The limited sales period, the contents of the product and the price may vary from shop to shop.
Kofukudo Official Website: https://www.kakiyasuhonten.co.jp/cate/brand/?c=001006001
RECOMMENDED ENTRIES
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Confectionery company Lotte are set to release the matcha versions of their popular mochi ice cream Yukimi Daifuku again this year on May 20.
The ice cream is made with Uji matcha and wrapped in chewy mochi. In the centre of the ice cream itself is matcha flavoured bean paste, making for the ultimate matcha delight. The design of the packaging has a refreshing design as the weather begin to get warmer in Japan.
If you are in Japan this summer then cool yourself down with some refreshing Yukimi Daifuku.
Information
Yukimi Daifuku Matcha
Release Date: May 20, 2019
Price: ¥180 (Before Tax)Lotte Corporation Official Website: https://www.lotte.co.jp/
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Yamatocha is a type of green tea famously produced in Nara prefecture. It is said to be the origin of Japanese tea. With the ambition of creating a new kind of go-to souvenir that represents Nara prefecture, Yamatocha daifuku shop GRAN CHA will open on 28th April 2019.
*Side note*: Daifuku is a type of traditional Japanese sweet consisting of a rice cake filled with a delicious creamy filling.
Tea culture is said to have been started in Japan during the Heian period (794-1185) when Japanese missions returned from China’s Tang Dynasty with tea seeds. Yamatocha seeds are planted more than 300m above sea level in cold highland. They are raised patiently so that they produce a wonderful aroma and the leaves maintain its juicy and aromatic flavours. These are the key characteristics of Yamatocha that make it so wonderful.
GRAN CHA struggled to find a method of maintaining the wonderful aroma of Yamatocha. After a lot of trial and error, the shop finally managed to produce daifuku that allows customers to enjoy a new matcha aroma as a result of different concentrations of matcha.
The daifuku is filled with only the ingredients for Yamatocha. GRAN CHA created five different strengths of matcha daifuku on a scale of 1 ー 5 in order of matcha strength. GRAN CHA put themselves up for the challenge of making their number 5 matcha daifuku the strongest matcha daifuku in Japan.
GRAN CHA even prepared a version of their matcha daifuku that comes on a skewer, making it easy for you to eat while on the move. You can also enjoy the traditional Japanese atmosphere of the interior of the cafe. They’ve even gone as far as to make an original daifuku shaved ice treat which is only available for a limited period!
Looking to take a breather during your Nara trip? Come refresh yourself with matcha daifuku! ♪
Information
Yamatocha daifuku specialist shop GRAN CHA
Address: 22, Higashimuki Nakamachi, Nara
Access: 3-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station
Opening hours: 10 am ー 5 pm
Shop information: https://grancha-nara.com/
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Nanaya, a producer of confections made using matcha from Shizuoka, is releasing a new line of blue chocolates. They will began rolling out at the Fujieda, Shizuoka, Aoyama and Kyoto Sanjo branches on May 9.
Blue chocolate is not something you see everyday. Nanaya make this melt-in-the-mouth chocolate by using the same original methods they developed to make white chocolate. It is more reminiscent of hard candy than the smooth velvety chocolate served in summer. It has a gentle sweetness brought about by the light brown sugar which is delicious until the last bite. It’s also seasoned with salt and pepper for accent and deeper flavours. The chocolate also uses butterfly pea which is popular in herbal teas in Thailand.
To further bring out the unique qualities of the herb tea, natural salt and three types of pepper are used: red, white and black. This adds a spicy kick to the sweetness of the chocolate. The chocolate is to be kept cool in the refrigerator and best enjoyed after leaving to come to room temperature before eating.
Try this exotic blue chocolate yourself this spring.
Information
Blue Chcocolate
Available: At the Fujieda, Shizuoka, Aoyama, Kyoto Sanjo and Makinohara branches of Nanaya.
*Releasing at the Tea Museum in Shizuoka and online on May 12, 2019.
Nanaya Website: https://nanaya-matcha.com/?mode=f4&sid=10
Marushichi Group Website: http://marushichi-group.jp/
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“FRANK MULLER / Kuromame no Pound Cake,” a Haneda Airport- limited sweets is now on sale at GINZA SIX
“Kuromame (black bean) no Pound Cake” sold at a shop in Haneda Airport produced by FRANK MULLER called “FRANCK MULLER 365 Port of VANGUARD” is now on sale at GINZA SIX “FRANK MULLER GENEVE”(limited time offer).
“Kuromame no Pound Cake” is a sweets item using fermented butter, fresh Benibanaran (a variety of egg) and black beans made of famous Tanba seeds. The item has a gentle flavor of strictly selected salt and slightly sweet black beans.
It can be said that it is a high-quality pound cake which has the rich aroma and delicate sweetness of black beans.
The elegant-looking, matte-black box’s package design will be changed into a spring-like fabulous design.
Why not try FRANK MULLER’s special pound cake!
■InformationKuromame no Pound Cake
4,500 yen (tax not included)
FRANK MULLER PATISLLY
Address: GINZA SIX 2F, 6-10-1, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business hours: 10:30 to 20:30
TEL：03-3569-0663
URL：https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000029.000024828.html
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Happy Turn is getting a new limited edition flavour. “Happy Turn Otona no Yuzukoshō Aji” will be available from January 22nd to the end of March at convenience stores around Japan.
“Happy Turn” is a hugely popular, light rice cracker snack in Japan that has been loved for over 40 years since its first release back in 1976. Yuzukoshō is another popular condiment in Japan like wasabi. It’s made from chili peppers, yuzu and salt.
Together with added sweet and salty powder, yuzu and a spicy tang, this makes for a flavour aimed more at adults.
They were very particular about the flavour of the yuzu, using yuzu peel from the village of Umaji in Kochi Prefecture. You can enjoy the sharp taste of the yuzu and its bittersweet aftertaste.
The new flavour is sprinkled with is 1.5x more specially made yuzukoshō powder than the regular powder to give the snack a deeper flavour. It’s a perfect snack for unwinding.
Take this opportunity to enjoy yourself a new ‘n’ tasty flavour aimed at adults.
◼︎InformationHappy Town Otona no Yuzukoshō Aji
On Sale: January 22, 2018
Price: Suggested retail price ￥100 (tax excl.)
Available: At all convenience stores around Japan and elsewhere
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Daimaru is one of Japan’s most well-known department chain stores that sells everything from clothing, accessories, food and more. The Tokyo branch can be found at Tokyo Station. Every year you see lots of people scrambling to seek out a Tokyo gift on the ground floor and first floor of the shop where they sell both traditional Japanese and western confectioneries.
2018 is the Year of the Dog on the Chinese zodiac, which is good news because a whopping 50 dog-themed gifts have been announced at Daimaru to welcome the New Year. Whether you’re looking for a New Year’s gift or something for your loved one, we’re going to show you the best 6 items on the list and the stores selling them, so you know where you need to go in Tokyo Daimaru.
Mozoroff: New Year’s Welcome Denmark Cream Cheese Cake (Dog) – ￥1,080
Mozoroff’s popular cheesecake has had a little makeover to make it appropriate for 2018: a dog version!
Minamoto Kitchoan: Ema Fukushourai – ￥1,296
This set comes with doggy design black soy beans stuffed in sweet bean jelly and melt-in-the-mouth New Year’s dog sweets (for you, not your dog!) Fukushourai means they will bring you good fortune, and they come with an ema which is a Japanese wooden plaque.
Kanou Shojuan: Kanou Shojuan Shichifukujin – ￥2,700
The shichifukujin are the seven gods of luck and good fortune. This little set contains seven different New Year’s good-luck confectioneries such as porgies, lotus root, and chestnut natto. Best of all, they come boxed in the takarabune, the treasure ship that bears the seven lucky gods.
Ryoguchiya Korekiyo: New Year’s Sweet Bean Jelly Gyodaika (2 incl.) – ￥1,836
Contains a set of 2 ‘saogashi,’ a rectangular shaped Japanese sweet, to welcome the New Year.
Funabashiya: New Year’s Saichuu (Dog) – ￥1,850
Comes with a set of 4 dog-shaped and 2 round snacks, all filled with large-grained adzuki bean paste from Hokkaido.
Toraya: New Year’s Sweet Bean Jelly – ￥3,240
Packaged in small limited edition packaging, the heart and skill of Toraya breathes through these sweet bean jelly treats.
We hope you get your hands on some year of the dog goodies for the New Year!
◼︎InformationTokyo Daimaru
Address: 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo
Open: 10:00-21:00
Contact: 03-3212-8011
URL：https://www.daimaru.co.jp/tokyo/
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“Tabemasu” is a wagashi (Japanese dessert series) using the motifs of many characters.
From the 30th of December 2017, “Tabemasu Disney New Year ver.” which uses the motifs of the world-famous Disney characters “Micky Mouse,” “Pluto,” “Donald Duck” and “Daisy Duck” will be sold at 7-Eleven throughout Japan.
This time, they will sell two versions which are “Tabemasu Disney New Year ver. Mickey & Pluto” and “Tabemasu Disney New Year ver. Donald and & Daisy.” As the concept of the series is “eatable mascots,” all the products are made of wagashi.
Characters other than Mickey Mouse are making their first appearance in the Tabemasu series and all the items are made in a precise manner.
The flavors of the bean jam stuffed inside the items is black syrup (Mickey Mouse), custard (Donald Duck) and strawberry (Daisy Duck) which are suitable to be eaten during the New Year’s holidays and they are recommended for small children.
The smooth texture and delicate flavor of the series is superb.
The sweets item using the motif of Pluto which matches with the zodiac sign animal of 2018, the dog, is recommended to be eaten during the New Year’s holidays.
Let’s buy “Tabemasu Disney New Year ver. Mickey & Pluto” which will be a great decoration on your dinner table.
■Information
Tabemasu Disney New Year ver. Mickey & Pluto
(Mickey Mouse: black syrup flavor, Pluto: yuzu (Japanese citrus) flavor
Tabemasu Disney New Year ver. Donald & Daisy
(Donald Duck: custard flavor, Daisy Duck: strawberry flavor)
Price: 360 yen (tax not included)
URL：http://www.bandai.co.jp/candy/tabemas/d-newyear/
(C)Disney
※The photos noted above are images.
※The photos might be different from the actual products.
※The available dates might differ depending on the store.
※Please note that some stores will not sell these items.
※The latest information can be seen on Bandai Candy’s website.
※”Tabemasu” is a registration trademark of Bandai.
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Beer, maccha (green tea) and Japanese desserts! Five recommended spots where you can eat or drink for free.
There are many spots in Tokyo where you can enjoy without spending any money.
In this article, I will introduce to you some spots where you can eat or drink for free.
Beer-lovers should visit this place! “SUNTORY Beer Factory” (Musashino)
You can observe the operations of this factory which was built in 1963. To everyone’s surprise, three cups of Premium Malt’s will be served per person! (snacks will also be offered).
It will for sure be an exciting tour for beer-lovers. You can also learn about the best way of poring beer into a cup.
◼︎InformationSUNTORY <Tennensui no Beer Factory> Musashino Brewery, Tokyo
Address: 〒183-8533 3-1, Yazakicho, Fuchushi, Tokyo
Business hours: 9:30～17:00
Holiday: Year’s end and New Year’s holidays / when the factory is closed (the factory closes temporary sometimes)
TEL：042-360-9591
URL：http://www.suntory.co.jp/factory/musashino/Let’s drink teas and eat desserts/snacks on an open terrace. “Komyo Temple Open Terrace” (Kamiyacho)
You can enjoy a cup of tea and desserts/snacks on the open terrace of the temple.
There are about ten kinds of desserts such as warabimochi (bracken-starch rice cake) and you must make a reservation before visiting the temple since the plan is very popular. This terrace is can be used because the monk of the temple wanted everybody to enjoy the atmosphere of the temple.
◼︎InformationKomyo Temple – open terrace
Address: Komyoji, 25-1, 3rd street, Toranomon, Minatoku, Tokyo
Business hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (the temple is opened throughout the year)
Fixed holiday: Saturday, Sunday, holidays
Access: 1 minute on foot from Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Kamiyacho Station
TEL：03-3431-5985
URL：http://www.komyo.net/kot/Let’s eat a giant gyoza (dumpling) (2.5kg) for free! Kagurazaka Hanten (Kagurazaka)
“Jumbo Gyoza” is a menu item with about 100 pieces-worth of dumplings stuffed inside one gyoza skin. The menu itme is so big that they cannot make usual dumplings while making this giant gyoza.
You don’t have to pay for this gyoza if you can eat it within an hour and they will give you a bottle of Chinese alcohol as a present!
◼︎InformationKagurazaka Hanten
Address: 〒1620825, 1-14, Kagurazaka, Shinjukuku, Tokyo
Business hours: Monday to Friday 11:00 to 23:00 / Saturday and holidays 11:00 to 22:00
Fixed holiday: Sunday
Access: 2 minutes on foot from JR Chuo Line Idabashi Station West Exit
TEL：03-3260-1402
Tabelog：https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1309/A130905/13011333/*Since it takes so long to make a jumbo gyoza, you will have to make a reservation 3 days before you take this challenge. Also, you will have to pay for the 100 gyozas before you take the challenge.
Lean how to make delicious cheese “Morinaga Nyugyu Tokyo Tama Factory” (Tama)
An observation tour of Morinaga Nyugyu where products such as milk and fruit juices are processed. You can observe the process of operation from the observation path while listening to an explanation. An experience course (option) where you can make cheese is also available. Please make a reservation 5 days before than the date that you want to visit the factory.
◼︎InformationMorinaga Nyugyu Tokyo Tama Factory
Address: 〒207-0021, 4-515, Tateno, Yamatoshi, Tokyo
Business hours: 1st roll 10:00 to 11:30 / second roll 13:00 to 14:30 ※90 minutes
Fixed holiday: Saturday, Sunday, year’s end and New Year’s holidays
Access: 7 minutes on foot from Tama Monorail Sakura Kaido Station
URL：https://www.morinagamilk.co.jp/learn_enjoy/factory_tour/factory/tama/You can enjoy many kinds of food from different areas. “Yoyogi Park” (Harajuku)
Many different kinds of events are held every weekend and many people gather at food events which can be entered for free. Please refer to their websites RE detailed information.
◼︎InformationYoyogi Park
Address: 〒151-0052, 2-1, Kamizonocho, Yoyogi, Shibuyaku, Tokyo
Access: 1 minute on foot from JR Yamanote Line, Harajuku Station, Takeshita Ticket Collector
TEL：03-3469-6081
URL：https://www.yoyogipark.info/How did you like our introduction to places where you can enjoy yourself without spending any money? Isn’t it amazing that there are so many spots like this?
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With just a small bit of ingenuity, turn everyday food into something cute using Kaori’s recipe series! With a few simple ideas, an ordinary recipe magically transforms into a cute dish. Today we’ll look at a recipe that uses a lot of fruit. Let us introduce to you, “Kitty’s strawberry daifuku”.
■1:Ingredients（to make 6 pieces）
・Strawberries 6
・Rice flour for dumplings 120g
・Sugar（white sugar or granulated sugar）20〜25g
（Use white colored sugar to make daifuku white）
・White bean paste 180g
（Use white bean paste to make daifuku white）
・Water 150ml
・Chocolate pens （black・yellow）
・Kitty’s ribbon pic（can be bought at a 100 yen shop）
2：Remove strawberries’ calyx. Wash strawberries and wipe with kitchen paper. Divide the bean paste into 30g each and roll it up. Place the bean paste on a sheet of cellophane wrap flatly. Then put on strawberries and roll it up.
※Cut the tip of strawberries so that it can’t come up from bean paste.
3：Mix sugar and rice flour for dumplings with water litter by little. Mix it until it becomes smooth.
4：When it becomes smooth like picture No.3, heat it for 2minutes and 10 seconds at 500w with a sheet of cellophane wrap. After that, mix it again and heat it for 1 more minutes.
5：After heating, mix it until it becomes smoothly like a picture above.
6：Place a dough on cornstarch. ＊Be careful to be burned
Divide it into 7 pieces. （6 for daifuku and 1 for Kitt7S ears）
Make each dough flat and wrap it up on bean paste. When dough stick together, make a round with your hands and put the cut sections down.
7：When you all roll up, make ears. Cut into triangle, make sure don’t put cornstarch on cut section）
8：Put the cut sections down and place it on the heads.
（If the dough dry up, put a little water）
When you fixing the ears, put a pic ribbon, and write a nose, eyes, and mustache with chocolate pens.
Finished♡
Kaori also invites you into her world of character-themed rice dishes in her recipe series! Please check out her Instagram where she has uploaded many pictures of her character dishes!
■Profile
Kaori Kubota（@kaopan27）
Kaori lives in Hokkaido and enjoys making dinners, sweet treats and character food using bread ♡
Kaori also loves to experiment with small tricks to crate easy character-themed sweets @kaopan27
Related article：Kaori’s easy recipe – learn how to make a “Kitty’s rice burger”!
Related article：Kaori’s easy recipe – Learn how to make “Rilakkuma Toast.”
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This feature is made possible by Arisa Shirai, a cooking specialist who posts regular photos of her gorgeous food via her social media. She makes every day recipes look photogenic with her small twists.
This recipe shows you how to make a “Strawberry Cup Parfait.”
■Ingredients (serves 2)
・4 slices sandwich bread
・200g fresh cream
・25g sugar
・120g yoghurt
・8 strawberries
■How to Make
①Use a cup to cut circles out of the bread.
②Mix the fresh cream and sugar until they become frothy, then add the yoghurt and mix again
③Thinly slice the strawberries
④Add a piece of the bread you cut out and the remains, then the strawberry slices, and finally the cream you made in step ②. Repeat this until you reach the top, then finish it off by adding some more strawberries to decorate.
Doesn’t it look cute! The yoghurt and cream go perfect together so you can just scoop and lick everything out. It’s worthy of posting a photo of too. Be sure to try making it yourself.
■Arisa Shirai
Visual food creator & charaben researcher.
Arisa Shirai shows how fun it is to make and eat your own homemade food.
Instagram: arigohan
Blog: http://ameblo.jp/arinko0917/
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■Related article：A recipe for photogenic food #13 “Marshmallow Pops.”
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Fukuya Dankichi will sell animal shaped steamed bun, Tondari Hanetari (Jump and Hop) at Omiya Stellar mall.
It is difficult to mass produce the product since artisans make each one by hand. Although it was offered during limited period, the store now sells them anytime to answer the needs of many customers!
The one bite sized animal sweet bum is each 120 yen! If you can’t decide which one to buy, you can buy all of them!
■information
“Tondari Hanetari” (Jump and Hop)
address：Fukuya Dankichi Ohmiya steller town 1-854-1 Miyahara Kitaku Saitama-shi
ECsite：http://www.rakuten.co.jp/tokachi/
■Related article：Let’s enjoy sweet Christmas with new sweets “Ice Cream Roll”
■Related article：【MOSHI MOSHI GOURMET】The best Fruit Parlor where you can enjoy seasonal fruits in Japan.
