Konpen

Representative of traditional Ryukyu confectionery

Founded in 1935, Nantou Confectionery is a long-established confectionery located in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture. They make a variety of traditional Okinawan “Ryukyu sweets” and the “Konpen” introduced here is one of them.

“Konpen” is one of the typical Ryukyu confections handed down from the time of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and is made from flour, sugar, egg yolks, sesame seeds, peanuts, and other ingredients.

The surface looks like a large manjuu with a dough like bolo pastry. It is quite heavy for its size and has a moist texture.

Inside is a red bean paste with lots of sesame seeds. The outer dough is hollowness but moist, firm and thick, and has a voluminous feeling.

The aroma is quite original. It seems to be a mixture of sesame, peanuts, and brown sugar, giving it a savory paste flavor.

It is a unique sweet and savory paste. It is characterized by the rich sweetness of peanuts and brown sugar and the savory flavor of sesame seeds. The outer dough also has a rustic flavor and the volume there is very generous. We felt that ”konpen” a traditional confectionery handed down in the Ryukyu Islands for centuries, is a unique confectionery that makes a great souvenir.