Yamazuto

Kintsuba with chestnut red bean paste like a perfectly round bean jam ball

Mase is a very long-established Japanese confectionery shop founded in 1872 (Meiji 5) in Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Their “Izu Mikan” that I had before is also one of their confectionary using mandarin oranges harvested in Izu.  They make wagashi, Japanese sweets and seasonal confections that are made from the most of local ingredients.

“Yamazuto” is a steamed kintsuba, made from sweetened bean paste that is covered with rice powder.   The name “Yamazuto” can be described as Mountain souvenir in Chinese characters, meaning a gift from the mountain .

The tsubu-an (sweet bean paste) is shaped into a round sphere and looks like a small “ohagi”, a rice ball coated with sweetened red beans.

A layer of chestnut red bean paste is included inside. The color of the paste looks beautiful.

The light azuki red bean paste is mixed with chestnut red bean paste and they are filled in.  The texture is smooth.  It is a gift from the mountains giving us a delicious natural elegant sweetness.