Hakoneji-Misoman

Traditional Hakoneji miso and plenty of sweet bean paste.

I bought “Hakoneji-Misoman” made by Shunkado in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Shunkado is famous as a confectioner that makes the well-known “Unagi pie” but of course they make not only Unagi pie but also various other confections, among which the “Misoman” is quite well known.

The miso used in the miso manju is made by Kato Hyotaro Shoten, which has a history of over 160 years in Odawara, and is characterized by its mild and rich flavor.

Packaged in two pieces, they are quite chunky and heavy enough to be satisfying.

The holes in the skin of the manju are said to be craters created by the use of granulated sugar, which shows the attention to detail in the skin.

It is stuffed full of tsubu-an (sweet bean paste), which is the true reason for its zushi-shi (heavy) weight. The manjuu looks quite satisfying.

Although the manju is filled with sweet bean paste, it has a very light flavor, and the sweetness seems to be kept to a level that does not spoil the flavor of the dough. The manju has a simple taste, but it is a large size with plenty of tsubu-an (sweet bean paste), so it is very satisfying.