Zenkoji Temple Baumkuchen

The official Baumkuchen of Zenkoji Temple is just amazing in so many ways.

“Zenkoji Temple Baumkuchen” is made by Kurian Fumido, headquartered in Obuse Town, Kamitakai District, Nagano Prefecture. It’s apparently an officially licensed Zenkoji Temple Baumkuchen. A Western-style confectionery endorsed by a temple? That’s pretty amazing.

Naming “Zenkoji Temple Baumkuchen” is pretty impressive, isn’t it? The package also has a solemn feel to it. Personally, the name really conjures up an image of some incredibly powerful monk.

A Baumkuchen has a vivid matcha hue. Kurian Fūmidō’s “Manmaru kuri-baum” is their another confection and this seems to be baked in a similar way, filling chestnuts and sweet bean paste into the Baumkuchen batter.

The sweet bean paste and chestnuts are firmly sandwiched between layers of the Baumkuchen.

The matcha flavor is remarkably authentic. The subtly bitter dough matched perfectly with the smooth red bean paste and chestnuts. It feels like a Western pastry yet delivers a distinctly Japanese taste. It is so delicious I couldn’t help but murmur, “Hmm, truly worthy of Zenkoji temple.”