Edited by Michelle Ho
As a continuation of a past article: “Japan’s most popular meals”, we introduce to you a few of Japan’s most mouth-watering desserts.
We’ll start with mochi, one of Japan’s traditional desserts. This soft, chewy delicacy has been with us ever since 300BC. Mochi, also known as “glutinous rice cake”, is a delicious dessert to have. The delicate texture is accompanied by the flavorful filling inside. Some may prefer flavored paste, fresh fruits, or even ice cream. In addition to its slight munch when bitten into, this dessert is a heavenly treat to all.
Another popular dessert in Japan, wagashi is a type of beautifully wrapped traditional Japanese sweet usually accompanied by a cup of green tea and has a slightly nutty and bitter flavor. Wagashi is used to represent Japanese culture and is used in many important festivities and events.
This dessert comes in many different shapes and sizes, additionally, having a different method or technique into the making of them. Some even contain plant-based ingredients, suitable for those who are vegetarian. Overall, wagashi is a beautiful yet delicious snack.
Taiyaki is a type of pastry dessert filled with Anko (red bean paste). It is one of the most popular desserts in Japan, commonly sold as street food. It is shaped as a snapper fish which is believed to be a sign of prosperity. This dessert is commonly served hot, eaten right after it is cooked on the grill, and is mostly sold at winter festivals in Japan.
Last but not least, we can never forget about dango, a year-round dessert commonly enjoyed during the blooming seasons in Japan. Created in the 15th century, dango comes in 2 different types. One, Mitarashi Dango, in the company of sweet soy sauce. Essentially, it is rice dumplings with a sticky, stretchy texture, skewered in an amount of 3 to 5 (Traditionally 5). It Is then covered with a sweet soy sauce glaze, and the smoky scent is unforgettable.
Another type of dango, Hanami Dango, has 3-colors, representing blooming blossoms in Japan. It is traditionally consumed during the sakura-viewing season. In a similar manner to the Mitarashi Dango, Hanami Dango has a stretchy and firm texture. It is occasionally flavored with matcha and strawberry powder, or seasoned without any glaze or sauces.
To conclude, these are the top traditional desserts consumed in Japan, they are aesthetically appealing and extremely delicious. Most importantly, they play a major part in Japanese culture.
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