Busu-no-Kobu

Delicious manjuu with a bold name but elegant sweetness.

I bought “Busu no Kobu” made by “Sawagiku,” a confectioner in Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture. Whatever it is, the name of the product has an impact (“Busu” means “ugly” in Japanese). As for why they chose such a name, it seems to originate from the origin of the name of a place called Kuji in Iwate Prefecture, which is not related to appearance but to the Ainu language.

The tough dough is filled with a rich red bean paste, and even though it is a small bun, it feels very heavy.

Despite its appearance, it had a very elegant sweetness. The light but rich taste may be due to the process of cooking azuki beans that have been soaked in molasses overnight. In any case, the skin is thin and crispy, and the main ingredient is the red bean paste inside the manju.

Although the name of the confectionery is bold, the manju itself has a very delicate taste and is mainly made of light red bean paste. I found it to be a rather elegant manju with a refined taste.