While 2022 was full of delicious snacks from beginning to end, here are the favorites of Sakuraco founder Ayumi, along with information about what makes them so special.
Soba Boro
Taniguchi (Kyoto)
Common Allergens: Eggs, Wheat, Buckwheat
May Contain Traces Of: N/A
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Wheat flour (produced in Japan), sugar, chicken eggs, buckwheat flour / inflating agent
Boro is the Portuguese word for cake and gives a hint to the origin of this buckwheat treat. One of Japan’s very first ‘Western style Japanese sweets’, boro are light cookies with a biscotti-like texture perfect for an afternoon tea snack. Boro made with buckwheat like these are a Kyoto specialty and a popular souvenir.
Mangetsu Pon Ama-Kara Soy Sauce
By Matsuoka Confectionery (Osaka)
Common Allergens: Wheat, Soy
May Contain Traces Of: N/A
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Wheat flour (manufactured in Japan), soy sauce (containing soybeans), sugar, salt / seasoning (amino acid)
With its 100th birthday rapidly approaching, this rich, soy sauce flavored senbei has been a favorite of young and old for a while. With its round shape reminiscent of the full moon, the auspicious rabbit was chosen for its cute retro packaging.
Romansketch Biscuit
By Takara Confectionery (Yokohama)
Common Allergens: Eggs, Dairy, Wheat, Soy
May Contain Traces Of: Peanuts, Almonds, Oranges, Sesame, Bananas, Apples
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Flour (made in Japan), sugar, shortening, glucose, powdered candy, vegetable oil and fat, cornstarch, salt, vanilla paste / inflating agent, emulsifier (contains soybeans), flavor (contains egg and milk ingredients), color (caramel, carotene)
19 different designs of famous Yokohama landmarks are printed on two crispy biscuits that sandwich midly sweet vanilla cream. A popular souvenir evoking the atmosphere of Yokohama.
Konbu Arare
By Maruyone Confectionery (Toyama)
Common Allergens: Soy
May Contain Traces Of: Shrimp, Wheat, Dairy
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Paddy glutinous rice (domestic), vegetable oil (contains soybeans), kelp (Rausu 70%), salt, kelp powder (kelp (Donan 30%))
Konbu, or edible kelp, is a staple of Japanese cuisine as it is used to make dashi broth. Rich in nutrients and with no other seasoning than salt used, this arare is a truly healthy snack.
Kyoto Moon Viewing Gaufrette
By Gion Tsujiri (Kyoto)
Common Allergens: Eggs, Dairy, Soy
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Sugar (domestic and foreign production), liquid egg, rice flour (domestic), shortening, starch, matcha, vegetable oil and fat, whole milk powder, honey, lactose, dextrin/expanding agent, emulsifier, flavor, antioxidant (vitamin E)
Japan’s most famous matcha is grown in the city of Uji in Kyoto prefecture. Gion Tsujiri began growing their prized matcha here in 1860, with their time-consuming method of stone-grinding unchanged since then. This Sakuraco exclusive sandwiches rich Uji matcha cream between two crisp wafers branded with a tsukimi theme.
White Peach Cookie
By Hidano (Nagano)
Common Allergens: Eggs, Dairy, Wheat, Soy, Peaches
May Contain Traces Of: Buckwheat
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Flour (produced in Japan), margarine (edible vegetable oils and fats, refined edible oils and fats), sugar, liquid egg, skimmed milk powder, white peach juice powder (concentrated peach juice (domestic), dextrin), white peach puree (white peach (Okayama Prefecture), sugar) / expansion agent, flavor, emulsifier, color (red 3, red 106, carotene), antioxidant (vitamin E, vitamin C)
A cookie filled with sweet white peaches grown in Okayama prefecture. Full of aroma and ideal with a hot cup of tea.
Retro Animal Yochi Cookie
By Shimura Kaseido (Saitama)
Common Allergens: Dairy, Wheat, Gelatin
May Contain Traces Of: Eggs, Soy, Peanuts, Cashews
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Ingredients: Wheat flour (manufactured in Japan), sugar, starch, shortening, glucose, lactose-based foods, salt, gelatin/expanding agent, coloring (paprika color, caramel, gardenia, beet red), thickening agent (processed starch), flavoring
These classic sugar-glazed cookies in the shape of animals and auspicious symbols are bound to unleash nostalgia in anyone biting into them. With their satisfying crunch followed by a light sweetness they are perfect for spicing up a cup of tea.
Kyoto Houjicha Latte Pudding
By Morihaku Confectionery (Gifu)
Common Allergens: Dairy, Soy
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Milk (manufactured in Japan), sugar, hojicha, agar agar/gelator (processed starch, polysaccharide thickener), pH adjuster, emulsifier, flavor
Confectionery experts Morihaku collaborated with us for a Sakuraco tsukimi exclusive. Mixing traditional and modern, this pudding combines the rich aroma of Kyoto houjicha with a gentle sweetness.
Ibaraki Puffed Rice Carrot
By Takami Seika (Ibaraki)
Common Allergens: N/A
May Contain Traces Of: Wheat
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Rice (domestic), sugar, syrup, salt
While carrots are yet another crop frequently grown in Ibaraki, this puffed rice treat is merely playing with the shape for its packaging. Created in Ibaraki over 50 years ago, it always gets a reaction for the nostalgia it evokes.
Parinto Natto Snack
By Kanasago Shokuhin (Ibaraki)
Common Allergens: Soy
May Contain Traces Of: Wheat, Dairy
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Ingredients: Natto (Japanese soybeans (not genetically modified), bacillus natto) (manufactured in Japan), palm oil, sardine extract powder (dextrin, salt, sardine extract), salt
A specialty of Mito, natto fermented soybeans are a love or hate food, even for Japanese people. This snack style natto is perfect for a first taste, as it has been dried to get rid of the stickiness and reduce the characteristic strong smell. We recommend a drink to counteract the saltiness.
Beniharuka Sweet Potato Cookie
By Kamejirushi (Ibaraki)
Common Allergens: Dairy, Wheat, Sesame, Soy
May Contain Traces Of: Eggs
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Flour (manufactured in Japan), margarine (contains dairy ingredients), sugar, shortening, sweet potato powder, black sesame/trehalose, coloring (gardenia, carotene, annatto), flavor (soybean origin), emulsifier
Sweet potatoes are yet another famous product of Ibaraki. This adorable cookie resembles the very Beniharuka sweet potato it is made of. Ideal for an afternoon tea break.
Kyoto Candy
Amesho Sawahara (Kyoto)
Common Allergens: Sesame
May Contain Traces Of: Dairy
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Sugar (manufactured in Japan), syrup, brown sugar, green tea, dried plum powder, shiso, ginger, sesame/acidifier, flavoring, fruit color
Handmade by a Kyoto craftsman exclusively for Sakuraco, these traditional hard candies come in six classic Japanese flavors: Brown sugar, Japanese mint, matcha, shiso, ginger and plum. Their special finish and deep flavor are testimony to the craftsmanship behind them.
Masakado Senbei
By Masakado Senbei Honpo (Ibaraki)
May Contain Traces Of: N/A
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Domestic Uruchi rice, soy sauce, sugar, mirin (sweet cooking rice wine), seasoning (amino acid, etc.)
Named after famous 10th century samurai Taira No Masakado, who to this day is revered as a symbol of strength and resistance, this senbei is made with locally sourced Ibaraki rice and soy sauce. Simple, honest and best enjoyed with a cup of tea.
Strawberry Tart
By Ito Confectionery (Ibaraki)
Common Allergens: Eggs, Dairy, Wheat, Soy
May Contain Traces Of: Almonds
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Wheat flour (made in Japan), jam (sugar, strawberry, syrup), shortening, sugar, chicken eggs, sweetened condensed milk, skimmed milk powder, dairy, starch degradation products, salt, cheese powder / sorbitol, acidifiers, gelling agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavor, leavening agent, emulsifier, red yeast dye, Ca phosphate
Full of juicy Ibaraki strawberry jam, this mini tart is the perfect mix of sweet and sour.
Ibaraki Melon Jelly
Kyoto Takara Confectionery (Shiga)
Common Allergens: Dairy
May Contain Traces Of: Wheat, Eggs, Shrimp, Peanuts
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Sugar (manufactured in Japan), melon puree, melon juice (75% from Asahimura, Ibaraki Prefecture), skimmed milk powder/trehalose, gelling agent (polysaccharide thickener), emulsifier, flavor, acidifier, color (yellow 4, yellow 5, red 10 6), antioxidant (V.C.)
Made with melon juice from Ibaraki, this refreshingly sweet melon jelly is perfect for those hotter autumn days. Pairs well with cakes and a cup of tea.
