The month of May brings the prized first tea harvest of the year. Green tea is a part of daily life in Japan and often paired with meals or snacks like another Japanese staple: Mochi rice cakes.
This month we want to introduce you to a variety of uniquely Japanese snacks revolving around matcha and mochi. We have selected a variety of sweets, snacks and tea with different textures and flavors for you to truly sample Matcha & Mochi.
Tanaka (Fukui)
Dishwasher safe: No
With interlocking circles representing happiness and harmony, these chopsticks with an enamel-like finish are sure to bring you good luck.
Hagiri (Shizuoka)
Common Allergens: None
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Tea (Shizuoka Grown)
Collaborating with Shizuoka-based tea maker Hagiri, we created this limited edition sencha with the aroma of cherry blossoms. Complimenting any kind of sweet or snack, this blend is ideal for a spring tea break.
To bring out the full flavor of the tea, brew the tea in water boiled to 100℃. However, if you prefer a milder flavor, try enjoying it with water heated to roughly 70-80℃.
Kimura (Kumamoto)
Common Allergens: Dairy, Soy, Gelatin
May Contain Traces Of: Wheat, Eggs
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Ingredients: Glucose syrup (manufactured in Japan), sugar, matcha cream (sugar, vegetable oil and fat, lactose, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, matcha), glutinous rice flour, starch, gelatin, matcha / processed starch, emulsifier, coloring agent (gardenia, chlorella powder), polysaccharide thickener, flavor
A perfect balance between bitter matcha, sweet cream and bean paste, encased in incredibly smooth mochi.
Kashihara (Tokyo)
Common Allergens: Eggs, Dairy, Wheat, Soy
May Contain Traces Of: Banana, Almonds
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Eggs, sugar, wheat flour, margarine, shortening, cornstarch, syrup, honey, whipped cream, matcha green tea, emulsifier, expander, coloring (carotene, caramel), flavor, antioxidant (V.E.)
Combining Japan’s favorite cake with its favorite tea, this fluffy baumkuchen is infused with Uji’s famous matcha and carefully baked to perfection.
Toraya (Kumamoto)
Common Allergens: Eggs, Dairy, Wheat, Soy
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: White bean paste (manufactured in Japan), sugar, wheat flour, syrup, eggs, margarine, reduced syrup, processed rice cake flour, starch preparation (rice cake flour, agar agar, sugar), mirin, matcha green tea, processed agar agar (syrup, agar agar) / processed starch, expansion agent, coloring (gardenia, carotene), flavor, emulsifier, polysaccharide thickener, antioxidant (V.E)
This manju perfectly contrasts the slight bitterness of matcha powder worked into its dough with a sweet red bean paste core. Perfectly accompanies a cup of tea.
Tengudou (Hokkaido)
Common Allergens: Wheat, Soy
May Contain Traces Of: Dairy, Walnuts, Sesame, Apples, Almonds
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Starch syrup (manufactured in Japan), sugar, wheat flour, glutinous rice flour, bean jam, houjicha (roasted green tea), oblaat (starch) / Ca carbonate
A rare find outside of Japan, experience the comforting taste of houjicha with this smooth mochi. The rich flavor pairs well with a cup of light tea.
*Wrapped in edible oblaat
Village Nishimura (Shiga)
Common Allergens: Dairy, Wheat, Soy
May Contain Traces Of: Peanuts, Shrimp, Eggs
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Flour (manufactured in Japan), margarine, sugar, matcha (produced in Aichi Prefecture), salt/emulsifier, flavorings
Folded into 432 layers before baking, this crispy pie has rare Nishio matcha worked into its dough. A delicate balance between sweet and bitter, this treat is perfect with tea or even coffee.
Tabigarasu Honpo (Gunma)
Common Allergens: Dairy, Wheat, Soy
May Contain Traces Of: Eggs
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Water (mineral water), wheat flour (from Gunma Prefecture), sugar, shortening, powdered sugar, milk, glucose, matcha powder, vegetable oil and fat, carbonized hojicha powder, reduced syrup, vanilla seed / coloring (chlorella powder), flavor, emulsifying agent, antioxidant (V.E.)
Using a specialist flour from Gunma, these light and crispy wafers sandwich rich and slightly bitter matcha cream.
Village Nishimura (Shiga)
Common Allergens: Dairy, Soy
May Contain Traces Of: Wheat, Eggs, Peanuts
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, lactose, whole milk powder, vegetable oil and fat) (manufactured in Japan), corn flakes, rice puffs, houjicha green tea/emulsifier, flavoring
Combining 400 years of tea knowledge from Kyoto’s Rikyuen with their modern approach to sweets, this snack by Nishimura features crunchy dough infused with roasted green tea and then covered in chocolate.
D-Plus (Gunma)
Common Allergens: Eggs, Dairy, Wheat, Soy, Apple
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Wheat flour, Uji green tea flavored flour paste, sugar, eggs, shortening, baker's yeast, margarine, whey powder, isomerized liquid sugar, germinated brown rice baker's yeast seeds, salt, matcha powder (dextrin, matcha) / processed starch, cooking sake, flavor, polysaccharide thickener, color (gardenia), acidifier, phosphate (Na) Antioxidant (V.C.)
Uji city in Kyoto prefecture is famous for growing Japan’s best matcha. Try it in a new way with this moist and fluffy bread filled with sweet matcha paste.
Panttone (Shizuoka)
Common Allergens: Dairy, Wheat, Soy
May Contain Traces Of: Shrimp, Crab, Buckwheat, Eggs, Peanuts, Oranges, Beef, Sesame, Mackerel, Chicken, Pork, Apples
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Wheat flour (manufactured in Japan), vegetable fats (rapeseed oil, palm oil), sugar syrup, green tea, matcha, chocolate, yeast, salt/emulsifier, flavorings
Karinto is a simple snack with a history of hundreds of years. Consisting only of flour, yeast and brown sugar, it can easily be combined with other flavors. In this case matcha and matcha chocolate are added for a unique mix of crunchy, bitter and sweet.
Morihaku Confectionery (Gifu)
Common Allergens: Soy
May Contain Traces Of: Wheat, Dairy, Eggs, Oranges, Apples, Peaches, Sesame, Almonds, Gelatin
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Sugar (manufactured in Japan), concentrated apricot juice/gelator (polysaccharide thickener), pH adjuster, color (safflower yellow, carotenoids), flavoring
Filled with sweet and sour Japanese apricots, this refreshing kuzumochi is perfect for hot days.
Izumi Bussan (Tokyo)
Common Allergens: Soy
May Contain Traces Of: Eggs, Dairy
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients: Starch syrup (manufactured in Japan), sugar, sweet potatoes, agar, oblaat (potato starch, sweet potato starch)/sorbitol, flavorings, lecithin
Japanese sweet potatoes are much sweeter than varieties found elsewhere and feature prominently in Japanese treats. Enjoy the unique taste of baked sweet potato with this kanten.
*Wrapped in edible oblaat
Kikuichi Arare (Aichi)
Common Allergens: Soy, Fish
May Contain Traces Of: Shrimp, Crab, Wheat, Eggs, Dairy, Peanuts, Squid, Sesame
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Ingredients: Glutinous rice (grown in Japan), vegetable oil and fat, salt, sugar, dried bonito extract, kelp extract/seasoning (amino acid, etc.), vegetable lecithin
Kikuichi take up to five days to pound their rice into sticky soft mochi. Baked just long enough to have a crispy outside but soft center, this arare has a rich and salty umami flavor.
Morihaku Confectionery (Gifu)
Common Allergens: Dairy, Wheat, Crab, Sesame, Soy, Pork
May Contain Traces Of: Shrimp, Eggs, Peanuts, Almonds, Squid, Beef, Salmon, Chicken, Apples, Gelatin
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Ingredients: Glutinous rice (grown in Japan), vegetable oil and fat, burdock root seasoning, salt, spices/seasoning (amino acid, etc.), flavor, color (caramel), sweetener (stevia)
Burdock has been a healthy staple of the Japanese diet for centuries and is often hailed as a superfood. Try its subtle earthy flavor with this crunchy arare.