Japan is a haven for those with a sweet tooth. Here are 5 Japanese desserts you probably won’t find in your home country.
1- Coffee Jelly
Whether you’re at a cafe, convenience store, or dedicated sweet shop, chances are you’ll see this interesting phenomenon known as coffee jelly.
Japan has a way of making traditionally sweet desserts a little bitter, usually by injecting tea or coffee ingredients into them for a caffeine hit.
Personally, I’ve grown to love coffee jelly and always pick one up after a convenience store shopping trip. The bitter coffee taste of the jelly combines beautifully with the sweet milky taste of the added cream, creating an exceptional coffee dessert that ticks all the boxes!
2- Brown Sugar Bracken
Brown sugar bracken is one of the most interesting Japanese desserts I’ve ever tried. Surprisingly, my first time trying it happened at a sushi train when I found it on the dessert menu.
Made from bracken starch, this dessert is essentially a form of mochi that is more jelly-like in its texture compared to rice-based mochi.
When topped with brown sugar, it makes for a delicious, sweet, and chewy dessert that is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber.
3- Egg Pudding
Another popular dessert in Japan is egg pudding which combines two Japanese favorites. i.e., egg and pudding. In Japan, you’ll find a pudding or jelly version of just about anything, and their love for adding eggs to dishes of all kinds is unparalleled.
With some of the best egg-based dishes in the world, such as omurice and sweet tamagoyaki, it’s safe to say Japan knows what they’re doing when it comes to eggs.
That being said, I urge you to try this egg pudding from any convenience store as it truly embodies a potent egg flavor and has a delicious sweet syrup at the bottom which wonderfully complements the taste.
4- Matcha Chocobon
In general, matcha-flavored anything is a delicacy typically found only in Japan, although the world has been able to follow suit nowadays.
However, there are still many matcha-flavored foods and drinks that are exclusive to Japan. Take, for instance, this Matcha Chocobon that is solely available at Cinnabon Japan.
Offering a bittersweet taste and the classic green tea flavor everyone knows and loves, matcha-flavored desserts allow you to squeeze in some health benefits such as boosting brain function and lowering the risk of chronic illnesses.
5- Dango
Finally, an absolute classic of the world of Japanese desserts, the iconic colorful dango! These small, chewy spheres of delight are made of a combination of non-sticky and glutinous rice flour paste.
The colors come from their flavoring. Pink typically means cherry blossom, red bean, or strawberry, white is usually plain but can sometimes be egg-flavored, and green is typically mugwort or matcha green tea flavored.
What’s really cool about this classic dango color setup is that it represents the life cycle of a cherry blossom tree. Pink represents the cherry petals, white represents the cherry blossoms in full bloom, and the green represents the leafy cherry blossoms after they have fallen to the earth.
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!