Japan is a haven for bubble tea and tapioca-based beverages. Here on MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON we have covered many shops selling these tasty drinks in Harajuku―the town which started the tapioca boom in Japan―but today we will be heading to the ancient city of Kyoto.

 

We are joined by Kyoto café life tiara who posts photos of the best drinks and desserts they have tried around the Kansai region of Japan. They have provided us with photos of two must-try bubble teas and two must-try desserts in Kyoto.

 

ROCCA & FRIENDS PAPIER KYOTO in Shijo

ROCCA & FRIENDS PAPIER KYOTO is just a 5-minute walk from Shijo Station. The cafe is made from a traditional townhouse along an old-fashioned Kyoto-esque street.

 

It takes a little while for your drink to arrive placing your order, but that’s because each beverage is carefully handmade from fresh. I ordered the mango smoothie soda and the strawberry smooth soda. Both are fruity and super refreshing and full of chewy tapioca pearls.

 

▼ROCCA & FRIENDS PAPIER KYOTO

Address: 735-2 Shinkamanzacho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

Opening Hours: 10:00-18:00

Closed: Mondays

Official Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/rocca.papier/

 

&Hana in Shijo

&Hana is located at the back of Kyoto Daimaru. The cheese rose tapioca milk tea I bought is a cute pink colour. It’s a mix of rose which is good for skin and relaxation, sweet brown sugar tapioca, and sour cheese.

Draped at the back of the cafe are bunches of dried flowers which provide an Instagrammable background for your drinks.

 

▼&hana

Address: 619 Nishiuoyacho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

Opening Hours: Weekdays 11:00-22:00 / Weekends & Holidays 10:00-22:0

No Fixed Holidays

Official Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/and_hana_/

 

 

KISSHOKARYO KYOTO in Gion

This honey and tea parfait is special because they only serve 20 of them a day. Tapioca pearls go well not just in drinks but in desserts like this one too♡

 

The fluffy shaved ice is a perfect match with the homemade Earl Grey tea syrup. The rest of the parfait is made up of milk tea flavoured jelly, tapioca pearls, tea ganache, and other delightful surprises.

I enjoyed mine with lots of syrup and roasted soybean flour!

 

▼KISSHOKARYO KYOTO Gion Honten

Address: 306 Ishibashicho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto

Opening Hours: 10:00-19:00 (Last Orders 18:30)

No Fixed Holidays

Official Website: https://kisshokaryo.jp/

 

MASHOLA in Kawaramachi

MASHOLA is a South Korean-style cafe which of course sells tapioca pearl drinks, but also this delicious capo egg brulee tart as well. As soon as you put the order in their fire up the tarts fresh along with hot tapioca pearls for a heavenly melt-in-the-mouth experience.

They also sell bottled strawberry milk packed full of fresh strawberries, and for an extra ¥80 you can top if off with tapioca.

 

▼MASHOLA

Address: 406 Sakuranocho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

Opening Hours: 11:00-20:00

No Fixed Holidays

Official Website:  https://mashola.business.site/

 

Did you enjoy this list? Kyoto café life tiara has lots of other tempting recommendations of drinks and desserts on their Instagram page too, so if you’re looking for something to try while in the Kansai region of Japan be sure to give them a follow.

 

Text & Photos: ＠happy_pinkrose_tiara

Translation: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

Kyo Yakasa Pudding opened its doors to the world back in April, and since then they have whipped up many different kinds of Japanese custard pudding, known as purin. Earlier this month they released their all new “Yasaka Cider,” a jelly-like drink which became a hit on Japanese Instagram (search with #京八坂プリン).

The shop’s most popular product since launching is the Kyo Yasaka Pudding―named just like the shop. It has a honey and lemon flavoured jelly which is full of agar and mango jelly balls, giving it a cute appearance and very refreshing flavour and completely new kind of texture.

Now, the shop has released its new Yasaka Cider. The word “Cider” in Japanese doesn’t actually refer to the alcoholic drink, but instead is usually a carbonated mixture of lemon and/or lime.

 

Available this summer only, the Yasaka Cider is the perfect accompaniment for cooling yourself down while strolling the streets of Kyoto, filled with Kyo Yasaka Pudding jelly, agar balls, mango jelly balls, and an in-house made lemon slice and honey mix. The beverage is made fresh to order and comes in a cute bag which you can carry around easily with you.

There are lots of great photo opportunities for Instagram in the store too! If you’re in or travelling to Kyoto this summer then be sure to stop.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Japan (KKDJ) is carving its jack-o-lanterns out early this year in time for Halloween as it reveals its new series of holiday-themed doughnuts titled “MONSTER HARVEST in Monster DINER.”

This pumpkin, chestnut and apple flavoured selection will be available at most Krispy Kreme branches across Japan from September 11 to October 31.

 

Pumpkin Custard Jack

Price: ¥230

The jack-o-lantern is the centrepiece of Halloween, and now you can much on one in doughnut form! Its face is coated in dark chocolate and filled with a velvety pumpkin custard cream. It also contains some pumpkin seeds for a crunch.

 

Black Cat Chestnut

Price: ¥250

The black cat’s dark chocolate covered face includes crunchy cracker ears, giant white chocolate button eyes, and caramel chocolate nose and whiskers. Inside it’s filled with a rich chestnut cream made from domestic chestnuts. The bottom part of the face is also sprinkled with tasty poppy seeds.

 

Apple Caramel Monster

Price: ¥230

This cute apple monster is a new addition to the KKDJ Halloween range. It’s made from a juicy, sweet and sour apple nappage made from the juice of apples grown in Aomori Prefecture. The single eyeball is made from a mix of white and dark chocolate and is what makes this doughnut so cute. The single pumpkin seed at the top completes the monster’s apple disguise.

Halloween Sprinkle

Price: ¥190

Covered in rainbow sprinkles, this custard pudding (purin) flavoured doughnut is subtly sweet and satisfyingly crunchy.

 

Halloween Dozen (Box of 12)

Price: ¥2,000

If you’re having a Halloween party with family or friends then this box of dozen doughnuts is the perfect treat, containing all of the above doughnuts as well as some of KKDJ’s classic doughnuts. You save ¥440 by picking up this box.

 

Don’t miss this year’s seasonal delights from Krispy Kreme.

Japan is a haven for bubble tea and tapioca-based beverages. Here on MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON we have covered many stores selling these tasty drinks in Harajuku―the town which started the tapioca boom in Japan―but today we will be heading southwest of Tokyo to Aichi Prefecture, located in central Honshu Island, to look at 4 must-drink tapioca drinks.

 

We are joined by meme whose Instagram page is packed full of drinks and desserts from cafes across Japan.

 

The Flower Table in Sakae

Located inside the MITSUKOSHI shopping complex in Nagoya’s retail and entertainment district Sakae is The Flower Table. I absolutely recommend this store for those who aren’t good with sweet drinks as you can choose between having sugar or no sugar.

Your taste buds are hit by the flavour of the milk tea on the first sip which has a bite to it. The tea leaves used by the shop in this drink are from Kusumi Tea, a Paris-based premium tea brand.

 

If you’re someone who likes chai then this taste is sure to tempt your palate. Not only does the milk tea taste exquisite, the tapioca pearls are sweet and satisfyingly chewy too. And let’s not forget to mention their adorable takeout cup designs!

 

▼The Flower Table

Address: MITSUKOSHI Nagoya Sakae Store Floor 3F, 3-5-1 Sakae, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture

Opening Hours: 10:00-19:30 (Food Last Orders 19:30)
*Food not served until 11am, only drinks between 10-11am
*Afternoon tea sets, parfaits and other teatime menu options served from 2pm

Official Website: https://theflowertable.owst.jp/en/

 

 

BON CAFÉ in Sakae

BON CAFÉ can also be found in Sakae. I had heard lots of praise about this place before my first visit so I was eager to get in there. I ordered two drinks: the mango cream cheese tea (with cream and tapioca pearls) and the brown sugar milk tea (with tapioca pearls). It’s hard to tell by the photos but both drinks are packed with tapioca pearls aplenty.

I’d heard before that the mango cream cheese tea was like a “dessert that you can drink,” and I can confirm that it’s true. It’s topped with fresh cream and pearls so it’s just as satisfying as a mango parfait.

 

▼BON CAFÉ

Address: Apa Hotel Nagoya Nishiki Floor 2F, Nishiki 3-15-30, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture

Opening Hours: 11:00-23:00 (Last Orders 22:00)

No Fixed Holidays

Official Website: https://bon-cafe.jp/tapioca/

 

 

Peripatos in Kita-Okazaki

Drinks at Peripatos are takeout-only. Their bottle designs are cute and simple with just a kitty illustration on them. The three drinks in the photo are Very Berry, Tropical, and Hazelnut & Caramel Sauce with coffee jelly.

The tropical drink has pieces of fresh mango in it while the Very Berry has fresh strawberry and chewy strawberry flavoured tapioca pearls in it. My friend ordered the Hazelnut & Caramel one which has coffee flavoured jelly in it instead of tapioca pearls. You sip it while crushing the jelly.

 

The shop interior is really cute too!

 

▼Peripatos

Address: 4-4 Ida Nishimachi, Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture

Opening Hours: [Mon-Tues & Fri-Sat] 11:00-21:30 / [Thurs & Sun] 11:00-18:00

Closed: Wednesdays

Official Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/c.peripatos/

 

 

Watashi to Cafe in Kariya

At Watashi to Cafe I ordered the strawberry milk tapioca drink. The pearls in this drink are strawberry flavoured too, and there’s a lot of them making is super tasty. The glasses they come in are cute too.

They also sell beautiful herbarium-like drinks. These don’t have tapioca pearls in them but I recommend these too!

 

▼Watashi to Cafe

Address: 2-20 Minamisakuramachi, Kariya, Aichi Prefecture

Opening Hours: Lunch 11:00-15:00 / Dinner 15:00-Midnight

Closed: Tuesdays

Official Website: https://watashitocafe.gorp.jp/

 

 

Did you enjoy this list? meme has lots of other tempting recommendations of drinks and desserts on their Instagram page too, so if you’re looking for something to try while in the Tokai region of Japan be sure to give them a follow.

 

Text & Photos: @ meme_mi_

Translation: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

Cinnamoroll’s Sky Drink Stand is finally open in Harajuku where Sanrio’s adorable white puppy will be catering drinks to your taste until August 25.

 

The drink stand is located along Harajuku’s famous Takeshita Street.

When you step inside you are taken soaring up into the clouds with its fluffy decor and decorations.

Cinnamoroll can be found all around the cafe looking adorable♡

To get a drink you first need to purchase a ticket from the ticket machine. Once you’ve got that, it’s time to head on over to the row of Cinnamoroll plushies.

There are 27 drinks in total to choose from. You will converse with Cinnamoroll and answers his questions which will change the colour, flavour and toppings of your drink. Your specially made and unique drink will arrive bottled with a handwritten name label on the front.

As you answer the questions you will be able to see Cinnamoroll making your drink on the tablet.

After a short time your drink will arrive!

Here is my cute and sparkly drink. I wrote “MOSHI MOSHI” in Japanese (もしもし) for the name tag. Mine was a delicious fizzy summery drink with blue jelly.

 

If you go with friends then you can have fun comparing your different drinks too!

You can get some even cuter photos at the shop’s many photo spots.

 

And if you want to order your drink in advance then you can use the Cinnamoroll Talk app which is compatible with Google Assistant. After you say, in Japanese, “OK Google, Cinnamoroll ni Osora Dorinku Onegai” (OK Google, please give me a Cinnamoroll Sky Drink), the order window will pop up. After you’ve talked with Cinnamoroll on the app you will receive an order number to collect your drink. There are also secret sentences hidden around the store for talking with Cinnamoroll, so if you find them you can have a longer chat with him!

 

Make your own unique summertime beverage with Cinnamoroll at the Sky Drink Stand♡

Häagen-Dazs just released their new Purple Sweet Potato Tartelettes and Rich Pumpkin mini ice cream cups in Japan. They will be available for a limited time only.

Purple Sweet Potato Tartelette

Concealed inside a crispy coating laced with purple sweet potato powder is a rich custard ice cream seeping in a subtly sweet purple sweet potato sauce. A tried and tested treat for autumntime, these crispy ice cream sandwiches not only taste like the sweet purple root vegetable, but they also take on their vibrant colour too.

Through much trial and error, Häagen-Dazs have been able to create the perfect harmony of flavours between the sweet potato and ice cream. The custard ice cream brings the richness of the egg and lifts the notes of the sweet potato to even greater heavenly heights.

Rich Pumpkin Mini Cup Ice Cream

The new pumpkin ice cream is drizzled in a pumpkin sauce packed full of plump pumpkin perfection. And by cooking fresh pumpkin, the flavour is condensed and made even richer, filling your mouth with the gentle sweetness of pumpkin.

Both the ice cream and the sauce are made with Ebisu pumpkins from Hokkaido. And like the tartelettes, these mini ice cream cups retain that bright original flavour of the squash plant.

 

Taste the flavours of all with these two new delicious desserts from Häagen-Dazs.

Hokkaido is a popular tourist destination for Japanese people as well as foreigners. During the winter, it is the perfect place to go skiing and during the summer, you will not suffer under sweltering heat like the rest of Japan. Hokkaido not only flourishes with wonderful tourist locations and delicious gourmet seafood, but also beautiful and stylish cafés.

 

In this feature, we are joined by Instagrammer Kei whose page is centred around cafes in Sapporo, Hokkaido. They have provided us with photos of desserts made with peaches which can be enjoyed right now before summertime ends.

 

Initial Sapporo in Susukino

Parfait Pêche – ¥1,700

Sapporo cafe Initial was ahead of the parfait game before the boom in Japan. Right now they are selling two new parfaits: one made with melon and the other with peach. They are being served until the end of August.

The parfait is topped with sweet sliced peaches underneath which sits refreshing milk flavoured soft serve ice cream for a heavenly combination. The yogurt mousse elevates the sweetness of the peaches and goes well with the sprinkle of black pepper. There’s even Parmesan cheese which tastes gorgeous with everything. No matter where you stick your spoon in this parfait your taste buds will be treated with delight.

 

▼Initial

Address: DRESS 2F, 5-Chome-36 Minami 3 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Opening Hours: [Weekdays] 17:00-Midnight / [Weekends & Public Holidays] 14:00-Midnight (Last Orders 23:30)
No Fixed Holidays
Access: 5-minutes on foot from Susukino Station and Ōdōri Station
Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/INITIAL.sapporo/

 

Gohanya Cafe Miyabi in Kita 24 Jo

Whole Peach & Royal Milk Tea – ¥1,380

The seasonal parfait at Gohanya Cafe Miyabi right now is the Whole Peach & Royal Milk Tea. It’s served with an entire plump peach on top which is best enjoyed by cutting and eating bit by bit until it drops into the glass. The peaches they use are refreshing and really delicious♡

Tea is the main component of this parfait and that too was super refreshing. It also includes a framboise sorbet which add satisfying sour notes, and the cookies and other hidden treats add a multitude of tasty textures.

 

▼Gohanya Cafe Miyabi

Address: E-COUR24 1F, 3-Chome-1-1 Kita 24 Jonishi, Kita Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:00-15:00 / Cafe Time 15:00-17:30 / Dinner 17:30-21:00 (Last Orders 20:00)
Closed: Thursdays
Access: 150 meters from Kita-Nijūyo-Jō Station
Official Website: https://miyabi-sapporo.shopinfo.jp/

 

TSURU CAFE in Miyanomori

Flavour Soft Peach – ¥830

TSURU CAFE is a stylish and popular little cafe that is selling its new Flavour Soft Peach for a limited time. The syrup is this parfait is in fact made from red shiso leaf. Inside you will find a tower of peach compote, soft serve ice cream, meringue, and the syrup.

 

The milky ice cream is a a magical mix together with the peach compote. The crunchy meringue is simply melt-in-your-mouth too♡

 

The syrup has that distinct red shiso fragrance but it tastes sweet and so makes an amazing flavour. The shiso will no longer be served once sales of this dessert finish, so you’ll want to get in there ASAP!

 

▼TSURU CAFE

Address: 5-Chome-2-8 Miyanomori 2 Jo, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Opening Hours: [Mon-Sat] 10:00-20:00 / [Sun & Holidays] 10:00-19:00
Closed: Wednesdays
Access: 500 meters from Nishi-Nijūhatchōme Station
Official Blog: http://tsurucafe.jugem.jp/

 

KAJITSU_CLUB in Tanukikoji Shopping Street

Peach & Hokkaido Soft Cream – ¥600

KAJITSU_CLUB is located in the Beats Eats are on the basement floor of PARCO. You can order the ice cream of this peachy parfait as vanilla, yogurt or mixed. I went with mixed.

 

The fresh peaches are so good! The soft serve ice cream is nice and sweet and there’s also a sour yogurt flavour. The flavours might be simple but the quality is high.

 

▼KAJITSU_CLUB

Address: PARCO B2F, 3-Chome-3 Minami 1 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Opening Hours: 10:00-20:00
No Fixed Holidays
Access: Directly connected to the Ōdōri Station subway
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kajitsu_club/

 

SHIRAYUKI in Tanukikoji Shopping Street

Momomo – ¥600

Available this August only, SHIRAYUKI’s new bottled drink is made of half frozen peach smoothie and half jelly and Hokkaido milk. This combination is match made in heaven! They come with a bag if you want to order for takeout too.

 

SHIRAYUKI

Address: Sapporo Aiseikan Bldg., 5-Chome Minami 1 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Opening Hours: 12:30-19:00
No Fixed Holidays
Access: 5-minutes on foot from Ōdōri Station
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shirayuki.hokkaido/

 

Pâtisserie LEEMO in Shinkotonicho

Whole Peach Parfait – ¥1,350 (*Only 20 available per day)

Pâtisserie LEEMO is known for its cute cakes and baked sweets, but right now they are selling this Whole Peach Parfait until the end of August.

You only need to feast your eyes on this dessert to know how refreshing the flavour is going to be. It even contains a jelly made from rosé wine, but the alcohol taste isn’t strong so can be enjoyed by anyone.

 

Depending on the stock of the bakery’s peaches sales of this dessert may end earlier. You can also make a reservation for one which I recommend, so don’t miss out!

 

▼Pâtisserie LEEMO

Address: 6-Chome-2-21 Shinkotoni 2 Jo, Kita Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Opening Hours: 10:00-19:00 (Parfait served at 12:00-18:00)
No Fixed Holidays
Access: Approximately 1km from Shinkawa Station
Official Website: http://patisserieleemo.jp/

 

Cake and bake HACHI CAFE in Hachiken

Whole Peach – ¥720

This luxurious-looking dessert is a whole peach filled with framboise jelly and custard making for an irresistible sour and sweet combination. The tart underneath is incredible too! Due to limited stock and the time it takes for the peaches to ripen there are days when the dessert isn’t serve. You can check the cafe’s official Instagram to find out if it’s on the menu that day or not.

 

▼Cake and bake HACHI CAFE

Address: Hachiken 3 Johigashi, Nishi Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Opening Hours: 11:00-17:00
Closed: Wednesdays & Thursdays
Access: 550m from Hachiken Station
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hachicafe8/

 

 

Did you enjoy this list? Make sure to wolf down all of the tempting peach desserts you can in Japan before summer ends.

 

Kei’s Instagram page is a wealth of recommendations for meals and desserts in Hokkaido, so be sure to check out their page if you’re planning to travel there.

 

Photo & Text: Kei (@607keih)

Translation: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

For this year’s Halloween season, The Capitol Hotel Tokyu in Tokyo has announced that it will serve up its Halloween Sweets Selection again this year at the hotel’s pastry boutique ORIGAMI located on floor B2F. The confectionery chefs have spun some spooky fun into this collection of 10 cute treats.

Frankenstein – ¥1,760 / Phantom – ¥1,760 / Cyclops – ¥1,760

The Phantom is a popular confection every year at the hotel, but this year he’s had two new freaky friends carved out for him: Frankenstein’s monster and a Cyclops. These white chocolate monsters are filled with chocolate-covered almonds, macadamia nuts and other hidden delights.

Witch Hat – ¥715

Dressed in a milk chocolate mousse is ganache and a rich and bitter crème brûlée made with bitter orange. It also contains a mandarin orange liqueur for deeper flavours. The mix of orange notes is refreshing on the palate.

Cross – ¥715

The orange and black Cross is a mousse cake made from pumpkin puree beneath which lies a cinnamon flavoured crème brûlée and coffee flavoured ganache. The bitter coffee elevates the exquisite sweetness of the pumpkin for a delicious combination.

Evil Eye – ¥715

Enter at your own risk with the grotesque-looking (but delicious tasting) Evil Eye mousse cake. It’s made with fragrant biscuit and caramel as well as blonde chocolate from France and inside is a smooth pear jelly.

There are lots of other Halloween treats besides these coming to the hotel too, so if you’re in Tokyo this October then be sure to stop by for a Happy Halloween.

 

*All listed prices include tax

GLOBAL PRODUCE, a Japanese event organiser, is set to sponsor Harajuku Summer Festival 2019 which will be held at Togo Shrine in Harajuku, Tokyo on August 23. Bringing together professional event producers, the festival will combine elements of traditional Japanese culture with the latest trends.

Food trucks and stalls will open in the dozens, including appearances from the shaved ice shop Kooriya bebe which makes its fluffy shaved ice from the natural spring waters of Mount Fuji―perfect for the hot weather―as well as Ichika, a cafe known for its tapioca Japanese tea lattes made with high quality tea leaves from Kagoshima. Current popular restaurants will also serve up delicious summertime food. There will even be the Harajuku Bon Odori 2019 dance event, and the marchers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will also be present.

Tokyo Bijin Project will make their first ever live appearance, a group of shining Japanese women with “wisdom, dignity and compassion” who are set to speak out for other strong women. They will talk leadership, interpretation, attending to people, the spread of Japanese culture, and more.

 

If you are in Japan for the summer then make sure you attend all of the different summer festivals you can.

Hey, readers. It’s Midori again, from MMN’s editorial team.

 

Summertime in Harajuku means the cafes and ice cream shops start serving up some seriously kawaii and tasty ice creams. It’s always nice to grab a cone to enjoy while walking around shopping, but relaxing in a cafe to enjoy it is fun too♡

 

If the latter sounds like your kind of thing, then I’ve got a new recommendation for you. I visited STRAWBERRY MANIA recently, cafe located along Takeshita Street in Harajuku that specialises in strawberry desserts.

You’ll find it right above the 7-Eleven on Takeshita Street. Look for the strawberries!

There’s also a sign outside showing a few of the desserts. Go up the staircase right next to it and you’ll come to the cafe entrance.

No matter where you turn while you’re here, your eyes will be met with strawberries. It looks so cute♡

The shopfront showcase is shelved with lots of succulent strawberry treats. The chef whips up other desserts to order besides these too. Everything’s almost too cute to eat!

 

For the strawberry soft serve ice cream you can pick between three flavours: milk, strawberry or mixed. I couldn’t pick between them so I went for mixed.

The combination of the bright red strawberry ice cream and pure white milk ice cream makes for a beautiful colour contrast.

It’s also topped with a huge fresh strawberry.

 

I took no time at all in taking a spoonful. The strawberry ice cream has a really rich flavour. It’s sweet but has that sour kick too, like you’re eating a real strawberry. The milk ice cream has a milder sweetness and a real milky taste, the kind you’d imagine if it was sold at a farm with cows.

Everything is packed snug into the cone right down to the bottom, making it a filling treat. It can be ordered for takeout if you like, and if you do that you can get your ice cream straight away so you don’t have to wait for seats.

 

They serve other things besides soft serve too, like shaved ice and parfaits. There’s so much to choose from, I think you’ll be spoiled for choice! Be sure to visit if you’re in Harajuku.

With just a small bit of ingenuity, turn everyday food into something cute using Kaori’s easy recipe! With a few simple ideas, an ordinary recipe magically transforms into a cute dish.

Today, I will show you the perfect recipe for making chocolate Minnie Mouse cakes using the Mickey Mouse Tezukuri Okazu Maker kit which you can buy on Belle Maison.

 

1. Ingredients

About 3-4 prep bowls

1 large egg

40g sugar

Oil or 10g melted unsalted butter

15ml milk

50g weak flour (sifted)

10g cocoa

5g baking powder

2.

①Crack the egg into a mixing bowl, add the sugar and whisk well.

②Add a drizzle of oil or melted butter and milk and whisk again.

③Add the sifted flour and stir in gently with a rubber spatula.

3.

Oil the silicone cake moulds and spoon in your mix.

4.

Steam on a high heat for about 10 minutes.

 

5.

Now it’s time to make Minnie’s ribbon. I got this ribbon mould from Daiso. Place it onto some baking paper and outline the shape with a pen. Fill the outline with red-coloured chocolate and leave to set in the fridge. Once it has completely set, add the polkadots.

6.

Once the cake has finished steaming, stick her onto a lollipop stick so it the cake be eaten like a lollipop, and fix the ribbon onto the top of Minnie’s head.

And she’s finished! It looks cute when you put a Mickey and Minnie one together side by side. You can make a lot of cute recipes using the Okazu Maker, so get your hands on one and try making your own!

Kaori invites you into her world of character-themed food dishes in her recipe series. Be sure to check out her Instagram where she has uploaded many pictures of her character dishes!

 

©️Disney

 

 

Kyoto-based Uji tea store Itohkyuemon released its new Matcha Parfait Bars at its new branch in Gion Shijo on August 7.

 

The bars proved so popular that all 1,500 in stock sold out on the first day. The store is currently being piled with orders for future sales. There are five flavours to enjoy: the classic matcha parfait flavour as well as cherry blossom, tropical, mont blanc, and strawberry.

Matcha Parfait Bar – Matcha

The matcha flavoured bar retains the original rich flavour of the Uji matcha, which has been passed down since the Muromachi period, and combines it with a delicious assortment of parfait toppings including raw matcha chocolate, mini daifuku, coarse sweet red bean paste, and more.

 

Matcha Parfait Bar – Sakura (Cherry Blossom)

For another traditional Japanese twist there is the springtime sakura parfait bar which is made with cherry blossom pink rice flour dumplings and ice cream. It’s also topped with cherry blossom cream and salted cherry blossom petals for a cute finish.

 

Matcha Parfait Bar – Tropical

Tropical flavours like pineapple and mango blend together in this bar which is drizzled in a sweet, sour and refreshing tropical sauce. Topped with fresh tropical fruits, this is the ultimate summertime luxury.

 

Matcha Parfait Bar – Mont Blanc

This bar incorporates a sense of autumn with its mix of candied chestnut, astringent chestnut skin, and melt-in-the-mouth mont blanc cream.

 

Matcha Parfait Bar – Strawberry

Strawberry lovers will delight in the handmade strawberry sauce and strawberry meringue of this bar. The meringue elevates the sumptuous flavours of the parfait even more, including the fresh strawberry, raspberry and blueberry toppings which provide a sweet and sour kick.

 

Which of these Matcha Parfait Bars do you want to try the most?