Japan is known for having some of the best food in the world. There are many Michelin star restaurants (like a sushi spot hidden in the subway) around the country. So, it’s no surprise that they also hold some of the tastiest desserts. Here are six Japanese summer treats that you need to try right away to stay cool in the heat.
1. Kakigori
This sweet, shaved ice dessert is first on the list for a reason. It’s refreshing, tasty, and contains different textures from the toppings added. It starts with a base of shaved ice drizzled with sweetened condensed milk. Then fresh fruit, jellies, and items like sweet red beans are added to the top of Kakigori.
If you’ve never tried this before, you’ll want to give it a shot. Kakigori is typically served in Japan in the summertime at festivals, shops, convenience stores, and certain restaurants.
2. Anmitsu
Anmitsu is another tasty traditional Japanese dessert. It offers the same layout as Kakigori – with some variation on the ingredients. This treat starts with jelly cubes made from agar and offers layers of fresh fruit, red bean paste, and a black syrup for sweetness. The finishing touch is a scoop of ice cream.
3. Mochi Ice Cream
In Japan, there are multiple ways mochi, a gelatinous rice cake, can be eaten. Mochi ice cream is a personal favorite as it is a great way to eat ice cream on the go and offers that chewy mochi texture.
Mochi ice cream can be in any flavor like red bean, green tea, mango, vanilla; you name it! You’ve likely seen this treat on the store shelves at some point with its growing popularity in America.
4. Tokoroten
Upon first glance, this might not seem like a dessert. The appearance of Tokoroten looks like a bowl of chilled noodles. This tasty treat is made from thinly sliced jelly – this is why it looks like clear noodles. Depending on the area of Japan that you’re visiting, it is topped with different sauces.
Eastern Japan enjoys this jelly dish with vinegar, while Western Japan adds a brown sugar syrup. Make sure you check which topping is included, so you’re not surprised. This dish has been used as a way to stay cool for many years.
5. Sake Jelly
Sake Jelly is a treat strictly for the parents as it contains alcohol! Sake is a rice wine made in Japan that can be consumed straight up, mixed in drinks, or jelly form (similar to a jello shot). It’s a sweet Japanese summer treat that is also refreshing. It’s perfect after a long day of exploring. Sake jelly comes in many flavors like lychee and plum.
6. Mizu Shingen Mochi
If you’ve been on Tik Tok or Instagram in the past year, you’ll surely have seen this dessert. Mizu Shingen Mochi is known as a raindrop cake. This nickname comes from the fact that the cake itself is clear and looks exactly like a large raindrop.
It’s another version of mochi that is served with sweet syrup and roasted soybean flour. If eaten without syrup and flour, the mochi has no flavor. This cake needs to be eaten fairly quickly – within thirty minutes. Otherwise, it starts to turn into a liquid.
Each of these Japanese summer desserts is a great way to keep cool. The sweetness is consistently at the perfect level between too sweet and not sweet enough to satisfy any cravings you have. Everyone in your family will love these dishes. Give them a try!
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