Ama Hotate

Gyuhi is made to look like scallop's adductor muscle.

”Ama Hotate” by Takase Sweets, located on the Sanriku coast of Iwate Prefecture, is a monaka shaped like a scallop. The shell of a scallop is elaborately shaped into the skin of the monaka. The subtle roundness and shell pattern are realistically reproduced.

Behind the generous amount of red bean paste is gyuhi, a sticky mochi made from Tokachi red bean paste and Habutae flour. It is made of Tokachi red bean paste and sticky Gyuhi made of Habutae flour.

I was told that the gyuhi is made to look like ”scalloped scallop”, and I thought “I see”.

If someone were to ask, “Why the scallop shape?” I would be able to answer the question well.

I know that the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster must have been very hard on them, but I was able to visit their shop and enjoy their sweets. The sweets are carefully made one by one in the shape of scallops, a delicacy from the coast, and are very tasty.