Reviewed by
Mary
Tokyo, capital of Japan, has a rich and storied history, and this month Sakuraco takes us on a little trips around the history and flavours of this amazing city.
The box is beautiful as always, and there’s even a little postcard depicting traditional style artwork.
Inside is a menu booklet. This is a wonderful accompaniment to the treats inside. There is a comprehensive menu and guide to all the different items. It includes descriptions, origins, and an allergy list too. There is also some wonderful information about the context of the box, from the traditional flavours and dishes of Tokyo to notes on the history of Edo – the previous name for Tokyo. It’s fascinating to read alongside trying some of the treats.
Hineri Arare are little fried rice crackers. They can be sweet or savoury, and these are the salty type, with a light dusting of spice. Japan often takes pastry inspiration from Europe, and the Milk Tea Belgian Waffle has a lovely Japanese twist – it’s made with two kinds of black tea, which gives it a lovely, slightly bitter edge which contrasts with the sweetness of the waffle. Karinto are another traditional Japanese snack. They are deep-fried batter, also sweet or savoury, and these Vegetable Karinto are a lovely combination of both with the dough infused with pumpkin, carrot, spinach, and more.
More savoury flavours with the Cheese and Pepper Otsumami. Otsumami means ‘snack’ in Japanese, and they are usually savoury nibbles which are served with the drinks. These ones are a combination of friend peanuts and crispy cheesy rice puffs, all with a touch of spicy pepper. This month’s tea is Kuromame Tea. This is a tea made from roasted black beans, and is free from caffeine with a wonderful deep flavour. A lovely traditional pastry is the Mochi Monaka., which is often served with tea. This is a wafer made from mochi which is filled with sweet red bean paste.
Two little Blueberry Tartlets are another example of the sweey-savory combination. The dough is infused with cheese and the filling is blueberry jam. The combination sounds a little odd, but actually cheese and fruit pair beautifully. Adzuki & Custard Edo Matsuri Ningyo-yaki are traditionally made for the Edo Festival. They are made from sweet sponge cake, shaped as traditional figures or symbols, with a sweet filling of custard or red bean paste. Sandwich cookies are very popular in Japan, and the Tokyo Skytree Baked Chocolate is a rich chocolate cream layer incased in two buttery soft cookies. They melt in the mouth!
June is hydrangea season in Japan, and while it’s not as famous as sakura season, there are plenty of references to it in the culture. The Hanatsumi Gummies are little fruit favoured gummy candies representing the colourful varieties of the hydrangea flowers. Mizu Warabimochi is a unique Japanese confection. It’s a clear round jelly-like sweet, which is served with brown sugar syrup and roasted soy powder. It’s really remarkable in both flavour and texture. Another nod to the hydrangea is the Hydrangea Amber Sugar. This distinctive sweet is known as ‘edible jewellery’ and the colourful translucent cubes are really beautiful. They have a crystal outer shell and are soft inside.Sugar & Brown Sugar Thunder is another traditional Japanese confection. This combination of crisp rice and brown sugar has been eaten in Japan for centuries, and they really are delicious little bites.
This month’s item of homeware is this adorable Tokyo Plate. It’s been designed by Bloom for Sakuraco, and features iconic Tokyo landmarks and Japanese motifs. It’s very cute indeed, and is the perfect size for serving nibbles or small pastries.
By Evelyn 
