Chestnut Sweets - Japan 2016

I love sweets made with chestnuts, which is why I like to go back to Japan in fall.

Like the last year, an European style chestnut cream "Mont Blanc" cake was a must-to-eat. This time, we bought one from Henri Charpentier, a European style confectionery established in Ashiya, a city near Kobe in 1969. Absolutely divine. Another "must" was Kurimaro by Tsuruya Yoshinobu, "the specialty shop for the ancient Imperial Household and the head masters of tea ceremony in Kyoto since it was established in 1803." Kurimaro's outside is a steamed moist cake made with grated yam powder and rice powder; inside is a large whole beautiful local chestnut and smooth sweetened red bean paste. Unbelievably wonderful.

I can't leave Japan without sweet soft Mochi ball. The inside of this Mochi ball was a whole sweetened chestnut and sweetened sweet potato paste. My dream Mochi ball ever!

Is there only me who wishes to access these chestnut sweets here in the US all the year?