Ogi Yokan

Historic yokan certified as a Japanese cultural asset

”Ogi Yokan” is a famous confectionery of Saga Prefecture. Its history is very old. Originally, the area of Saga Prefecture was the center of sugar culture from the period of the Nanban trade to the period of national isolation, so confectionery techniques using sugar developed, and the Ogi area of Saga seems to have had a very early start in the history of making Japanese sweets, including yokan, even in Japan.

It is still made by many confectioners in the neighborhood of Ogi City, and this time I bought some bite-sized Ogura-yokan from “Muraoka Sohonpo,” which is nationally known among them. The classical keynote package design with cherry blossoms is beautiful.

Incidentally, the traditional way to eat Ogi Yokan is to let the surface dry until the rough texture of the sugar appears, and then let it sit for a while before eating, but the pouch of the bite-sized version we bought this time was opened and eaten as is.

It is characterized by the fine texture and transparency of the azuki beans.

The rich yet light aftertaste of this fine yokan with a rich azuki bean flavor. This exquisite balance reveals the strength of Ogi Yokan, which has been loved for a long time. The taste of yokan shows the depth of the yokan tradition that has been cultivated in Ogi City, Saga Prefecture.