You don’t have to go to a fancy cafe to enjoy the delicious taste of Japanese desserts. Here are my top 5 choices from Lawson combinis!
1. Mitarashi Dango
Dango is one of the most classic Japanese desserts right up there with mochi.
In fact, just like mochi, it’s made of rice flour which gives it its unique chewy texture.
Dango differs from mochi by being made into smaller balls with a firmer texture.
Mitarashi dango is a variation of this dessert whereby the dango is toasted on a grill and covered in a sweet soy sauce glaze.
Skewed onto a wooden stick, they’re easy to eat with a sweet sticky, and toasty flavor.
2. Matcha Custard-Filled Melon Pan
Melon pans are a classic Japanese dessert that you’ll find at any convenience store or bakery in Japan.
However, this particular variant integrates another Japanese favorite into its filling, green tea matcha custard!
Available at Lawson stores, the filling is sweet and gooey with a slightly bitter taste typical of matcha flavors.
A crispy texture on the outside is met with a soft interior on the inside, and the center-filled custard makes it worth the journey to get there!
3. Azuki Ice Cream
Another icon of Japanese desserts is azuki, otherwise known as sweet red beans.
You’ll typically find azuki in all kinds of Japanese desserts such as hot red bean soup, sweet paste bread, and one of my personal favorites, ice cream!
This particular item consists of vanilla ice cream infused with pure azuki, offering a sweet bean taste and texture to every bite.
Beans and dessert may not be a thing in the West, but in Japan, it’s a perfected concept!
4. Matcha Pocky
Again, we are killing two birds with one stone here, because matcha-flavored pocky combines two Japanese dessert favorites into one!
Pocky is a classic Japanese okashi (snack) that originally involves biscuit sticks coated in chocolate.
Nowadays, varieties have expanded to include Japanese favorites such as matcha green tea flavors into the mix!
In addition, you can get versions of pocky where the biscuit is filled from the inside, as shown in the image.
Sweet and bitter as ever, this pocky flavor provides a sugary sweet kick as well as a hit of bitter anti-oxidants, helping you feel both energized and relaxed at the same time!
5. Anko-Filled Bun
Last but not least is another red bean favorite, this time in the form of an anko-filled bun!
Anko is the paste derivative of azuki beans, offering a sweet paste that can be used in all types of desserts, including mochi, dango, and ice cream.
Complete with sesame seeds and a soft exterior, the bun provides the perfect home for a generous helping of anko paste concealed within!
Lawson combinis offers a wide variety of anko bread, sometimes mixed with whipped cream or green tea matcha flavors too.
I recommend the basic anko-filled bun as the paste is quite sweet in and of itself, providing that authentic Japanese flavor you’re looking for.
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