Karukan-Manju

Traditional Japanese sweets created over 300 years ago

I bought “Karukan Manju” from Akashiya in Kagoshima Prefecture. In Kagoshima, there is a traditional sweet called “Karukan” that has a very long history. The oldest record of this traditional confectionery is that it was used at the celebration of the 50th birthday of Tsunaki Shimazu, the 20th generation of the Shimazu family, about 300 years ago.

There are many stores in Kagoshima Prefecture that make karu-kan, a traditional confectionery. Among them, Akashiya has an extremely deep tradition. Akashiya was founded in 1855. Akashiya’s “Karukan Manju” is a round manjuu filled with sweet bean paste.

Upon opening the package, an amazingly white and beautiful manjuu appeared. The texture was chewy, and I was amazed that this had already existed three hundred years ago.

Karukan is made with plenty of yam and steamed with plenty of air, making it soft and fluffy with a moist, spongy texture. The simple sweetness of the dough has long been a favorite.

Karukan and anko(red bean paste) are a definite combination.

Please try Kagoshima’s traditional Karukan. You will be impressed by the depth of the Japanese confectionery tradition.