Japan is known for its mouthwatering and delectable Japanese desserts.
In cafes or stores along the street of Japan, these desserts will tantalize your taste buds!
If you have a sweet tooth and you’re interested to see what Japan has to offer, then these Japanese desserts are a perfect start for you.
They are visually stunning, and they have a unique and delicate flavour that will leave you craving for more.
Unlike other desserts that may be one-dimensional in their flavours or just sugary sweet, the complexity of these desserts is a breath of fresh air.
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Let us explore five delicious Japanese desserts that you must try now!
Mochi
Mochi is a traditional Japanese dessert that is made from sweet rice flour.
It’s pretty similar to the Muah Chee we have in Singapore; however, the flavours and textures are different.
The flour is first steamed and then pounded into a sticky dough.
It never gets old to see these sticky mochi doughs being pounded in front of you.
One of the most popular places to see these Mochi doughs getting pounded is in the city of Nara.
After the pounding process, the dough is then shaped into small balls and it can be filled with a variety of ingredients.
These different types of ingredients in Mochi include:
- Sweetened azuki red bean paste
- Ice cream
- Fresh fruit with cream.
The soft texture of the Mochi gives it a satisfying chewy bite when you’re taking your first bite.
Then you’ll be greeted by the ingredients which are often pleasant and delicious.
There’s something about the powdered sugar or flour on the surface of the Mochi that gives an aftertaste that leaves you wanting more.
Matcha Ice Cream
Matcha is a finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea leaves.
It has a slightly bitter taste with a strong green tea flavour and it is commonly used in Japanese desserts.
If you haven’t tasted Matcha before, please do not be dissuaded by your peers who mentioned that they do not like Matcha.
Often times these people have tasted pure matcha without any form of sweetener, so it may be offputting to them.
However, Matcha ice cream has sweet and creamy ice cream to dampen the rich tea flavours of Matcha.
Matcha ice cream is made by adding matcha powder to a basic ice cream recipe.
The combination results in a creamy and refreshing dessert with a unique flavour that is perfect for those who love green tea.
The complexity of the tea flavour and the creaminess of the ice cream gives you a different take on what dessert can be, instead of the usual overpoweringly sweet ice cream.
You can find Matcha ice creams in street vendors or in cafes in Japan.
My favourite Matcha ice cream store is in Kyoto, and it had one of the perfect ratios of cream to matcha.
You can have your Matcha ice cream as is, or in ice cream cones.
Some cafes pair it with mochi and azuki red beans.
Wagashi
Wagashi is a general term that refers to traditional Japanese sweets.
The term ‘Wa’ in ‘Wagashi’ means Japanese, and ‘Gashi’ means sweets.
These sweets are often made with rice flour, sweetened bean paste, and fruit.
You may liken Wagashi to the snow skin moon cakes we’re used to eating in Singapore.
The ingredients inside are indigenous to the area you’re in and it is made according to the seasons as well.
Wagashi is one of the artisanal desserts of Japan that is a great representation of Japanese cuisine; it abides by the philosophy of eating with other senses as well.
These are not only delicious but also visually stunning, often featuring intricate designs and patterns.
You’ll often see Wagashi in beautiful and intricate patterns of flowers or other cute symbols of Japan like Koi fish or Cartoon characters.
It is often hand-crafted and stamped using a wooden mould to give it its delicate form and pattern.
The taste is not overly sweet, which is suitable for people who prefer desserts with mellow flavours.
The bean paste is made out of red azuki beans or white kidney beans and the natural sweetness of the beans is soothing.
Wagashi is commonly paired with green tea.
Imagine sipping your green tea, and taking a bite of the Wagashi while viewing the tranquil gardens.
You can find Wagashi in confectionery stores dedicated to Wagashi only, street vendors, or cafes.
I was served Wagashi during my Ryokan(Traditional Japanese Inn) stay in Nara, and it was a real delight to see and chew on.
Dorayaki
Dorayaki – also known as Doraemon’s favourite dessert – is a sweet pancake filled with sweetened red bean paste.
The pancake is made by mixing flour, sugar, and eggs, and then cooked on a griddle.
The smooth surface of the pancakes is visually satisfying and when you touch the pancakes, it’s very soft and bouncy.
If you’re a fan of pancakes, these Japanese pancakes are a great addition to your list of favourites.
The red bean paste is sandwiched between two pancakes to create a sweet and pleasing dessert.
The taste – like most other Japanese desserts – is mellow and it focuses more on the natural taste of the azuki beans.
The combination of different sweetness – from the pancake to the beans – makes it unique.
Dorayaki is a popular dessert in Japan and can be found in many cafes and street stores in popular tourist spots.
Anmitsu
Anmitsu is a refreshing dessert made with a variety of different ingredients.
Depending on the cafe or store you’re in, you can find:
- Agar jelly
- Sweetened bean paste
- Fruit.
- Ice cream
- Mochi
- Brown Sugar
- Matcha syrup
The jelly has a delicate and slightly sweet flavour, and the bouncy and soft texture is what makes it so addictive.
Anmitsu is often served with a variety of toppings such as fruit, mochi, and ice cream.
One of the most traditional desserts that date back to the late 19th century, Anmitsu is akin to tasting a dessert from the past, so it’s another way to experience Japanese culture.
Naturally, the dessert is sweet because of the fruits and ice cream and this dessert will definitely be palatable to almost everyone.
What’s unique about this dessert is the syrup that they use to bind all of the ingredients together.
The black syrup or the Matcha syrup combines the dish harmoniously, and all of the different ingredients feel like it fits together.
Anmitsu is a perfect dessert for hot summer days, but you can always have it during the autumn period as well.
*What’s a dessert in this list that you’re going to try next?
Tell us in the comment section below and share this with your friend who has a sweet tooth!
