■ Toraya Osaka, Osaka City, Kita-ku, Umeda 1-13-13, Hankyu Department Store Umeda Main Store B1F. Whenever I purchase yokan at Toraya, I always go for the small size. Small Yokan 5 pieces for 1,620 yen (tax included). Small Yokan includes "Yoru no Ume" (Night Plum), "Omokage" (Visage), "Shinryoku" (Fresh Green), "Hachimitsu" (Honey), and "Koucha" (Black Tea). It's perfect for offering at the Buddhist altar, has a long shelf life, and is just the right size for sharing with family when craving something sweet. It was delicious ❤️ #KyotoGourmet #JapaneseSweets #Yokan #Toraya #TorayaYokan #SmallYokan #YoruNoUme #YoruNoUmeIsMyFavorite #Omokage #Shinryoku #Hachimitsu #Koucha #TorayaYokan #Offering #I'mBlogging #IkuraChan'sHyogoFoodWalk

This time, I peeked into the popular traditional Japanese confectionery shop, but the prices are still high! I managed to pick out two items that I could afford, used a 5% discount coupon for shareholders, paid 584 yen with a card, and decided to go elsewhere. I had the items chilled at home, but the night plum was a bit hard, maybe because it was in the freezer? The taste was just okay. The summer lemon, on the other hand, was soft and delicious. By the way, I learned that Toraya originally started in Kyoto.

When you think of Toraya, you think of yokan, but actually their uirou is delicious too! When I feel like yokan is a bit heavy, I often buy this light and delicious uirou. Today, I purchased this uirou at just the right price. It's a versatile item that can also be a great gift. Highly recommended!

I noticed that I was running low on morning snacks, so I decided to stock up on sweets around Osaka Station. One of the shops I visited was truly a top-notch establishment. I bought a sweet treat labeled as "anpan" from this shop. It was like a sponge cake with a pattern stamped on top. When I bit into it, I found a sweet filling that resembled cream, but there was no clear boundary between the cake and the filling. This might be why it's called anpan. It seemed to be made with several types of beans as ingredients. Despite being incredibly sweet, it was not overpowering and had a perfectly balanced flavor. It was delicious.

On this day, I knew that my husband loves Toraya's yokan. I have been asked by him before, but he always gives in saying, "It's too expensive." The acacia honey I bought recently was a birthday present. A pre-birthday present, if you will. However, going home empty-handed on the actual birthday didn't feel right, so I headed back to Hankyu Department Store. The goal was Toraya. Oh, this is a whole piece. It costs 3,024 yen. There are various types such as Yoru no Ume (red bean yokan), Shinryoku (matcha yokan), Awa no Kaze (made with wasanbon sugar), Omokage (made with black sugar). But my husband's favorite is the standard red bean yokan. The price varies depending on the size. The medium-sized yokan is 1,512 yen, and the small one is 260 yen. Since it's a special birthday present, I decided to buy the largest one. It was wrapped in bamboo skin. It felt heavy when I held it. The weight of 660g is quite substantial. After returning home, I handed it over at the right time. He was really surprised. When the time finally came 10 days later, we opened the bamboo wrapping. Contrary to expectations, it was separated into two pieces. It wasn't a whole piece after all. There were lines for easy cutting with a knife. My husband cut it as instructed and I prepared some Earl Grey tea. The red bean yokan had a deep purple color, almost black. The texture was dense, and the sweetness lingered. It had a nostalgic and comforting sweetness, typical of traditional Japanese sweets. Feel free to eat the rest, my dear husband. Thank you for the meal.

I bought some Toraya yokan after hearing Matsuko Deluxe rave about it on a TV show. It's a luxury item and I opted for the stick type so I didn't have to cut it. There were other flavors like matcha, but I like to start with plain. It's really delicious! It's smooth without any bitterness and just the right amount of sweetness. I want to keep eating more.

I tried the limited-time strawberry and rum raisin yokan from the long-established yokan shop "Toraya". The rum raisin yokan was delicious! I couldn't resist eating a lot, maybe because I'm on a diet break, but I was also drawn to the cuteness of the packaging (laughs). Strawberry Yokan 260 yen per piece - A seasonal limited yokan that combines strawberry with smooth red bean paste. The gentle flavor of strawberries evokes the feeling of spring. The strawberry puree blended in gives it a hint of strawberry flavor, but it still tastes like traditional yokan. The aftertaste is slightly refreshing, and it might go well with black tea rather than green tea. Available until early April. Rum Raisin Yokan 260 yen per piece - A refined yokan with fragrant rum raisins mixed in. It has a light brown color due to the white beans added. It contains plenty of chopped raisins inside, giving a subtle rum aroma. Although it's a sweet treat, it would be perfect with brandy or a full-bodied red wine. I enjoyed it with black coffee, and the rum raisin flavor in my mouth was truly blissful. Personally, the Rum Raisin Yokan was the clear winner! It's a real adult dessert. I definitely want to buy it again during the limited period. However, Toraya's yokan is quite sweet, so even one piece feels substantial. It might be a good gift for men or those who enjoy alcohol.

It's been a while! The latest news from Hankyu Umeda Main Store is "Taneya Umeda Hankyu Store". Taneya, known for its western-style sweets brand "CLUBHARIE", offers a regular dorayaki with chunky red bean paste for 150 yen (excluding tax). And as a limited item at Umeda Hankyu, they have a tiger-patterned dorayaki for 150 yen (excluding tax). It's baked with a tiger design!

Toraya used to always use their products as gifts when visiting elderly people during the Bon and New Year's seasons. Now, I have taken over this tradition. This time, I purchased a gift set, but unfortunately, it got wet on the way home due to heavy rain. I decided to keep it for myself and found a bookmark inside the box with an explanation of the name's origin: "The cut beans resemble the faintly white blooming plum flowers in the darkness of the night." When I unwrapped the bamboo packaging, I found two boxes inside. I cut a couple of pieces to share, and upon tasting it, I found the texture to be dense and smooth. The first bite was sweet but not overpowering, with a refreshing sweetness that lingered in the mouth. As I continued to eat, the flavor of the beans became more prominent, with a subtle sweetness lingering after each bite. Overall, it was a delicious treat, worth the price for its quality.

"This is truly a masterpiece that embodies the essence of Toraya." That's what I always think when I see the yellow and black striped yokan here. At the Hankyu Umeda Department Store and Hanshin Department Store, there is a limited edition yokan sold only during the official baseball season, from opening to closing. The one I purchased this time is called "Rokko no Kaze." Not only the packaging, but the yokan itself has a yellow and black striped pattern. Some may imagine a chocolate banana flavor from its appearance, but the black part is made of yokan with red azuki beans, and the yellow part is made of yokan with yellowish white beans, offering a light taste. I once brought this as a souvenir to an acquaintance who used to be a big Hanshin Tigers fan, and they really liked both the taste and the appearance. If you have friends or acquaintances who are Hanshin fans, why not visit the Hanshin Department Store or Hankyu Umeda Department Store in Umeda during the baseball season? Of course, it's also recommended for those who are Hanshin fans themselves (laughs).

Representing Japan is the traditional confectionery shop "Toraya". Although you might think it's an Edo-era shop, it actually originated in Kyoto and opened a branch in Edo (now Tokyo) when the capital moved. There are various sweets, but the most famous is definitely the yokan. I love yokan too, but the process of cutting it straight with a knife, washing the knife, and placing it on a plate can be a hassle. That's why the pre-cut "mini yokan" is perfect for lazy people like me! No need for a knife or scissors, just peel off the film! It helps prevent overeating and avoids eating the oddly shaped pieces. And at a reasonable price of 260 yen including tax! Although I originally wanted the "black tea" flavor, I lost in a rock-paper-scissors battle, so I tried the "fresh green" and "honey" flavors this time. The "fresh green" is described as matcha, and it's easy to eat with a mild tea flavor. The "honey" flavor surprised me with its orange color, but it was delicious and had a smooth caramel-like taste. They seem to pay attention to not only the red bean but also the honey. It was delicious! Thank you for the meal!

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope we can continue to have a good relationship this year as well. The first review of the year is about Toraya's yokan. I purchased a yokan called "Shun Inu" at the Toraya store in the basement of Hankyu Department Store as a New Year's gift. The price was 3,600 yen. On New Year's Day, I went to my parents' house and opened the gift. Inside were two half-sized yokan. The contrast between the traditional azuki bean color and the spring-like green color was beautiful! The pattern is said to represent a dog leisurely enjoying the pleasant weather. I cut the yokan myself and enjoyed it with tea that my parents brewed for me. It was so smooth and melted in my mouth without any roughness. The flavor was rich without being overly sweet. It was absolutely delicious! My parents also enjoyed it. The staff member who assisted me had beautiful, clear skin and lovely eyes. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

My favorite yokan (excluding mizu-yokan) at the moment is from Toraya. I first tried it over 30 years ago, and it has become the standard taste of yokan for me. They now have various flavors like matcha, kinako, black tea, white miso, and black sugar. However, my favorite is still "Yoru no Ume" (popular red bean flavor) that I first tried. I prefer the thick, solid ones and always choose the single piece wrapped in bamboo skin. It used to be a whole piece, but a few years ago they started dividing it in half inside, making it easier to handle. I buy it every New Year to enjoy at home, and it comes in handy when unexpected guests visit during the holiday season. This time, I bought a single piece wrapped in bamboo skin for 3,024 yen. The expiration date is about 10 months. As always, it made me feel happy and satisfied. It's convenient that Club Harie is right next to it in Umeda Hankyu.

When I feel like eating yokan, I go to Toraya. There are branches everywhere, but I sometimes use the one at Hankyu Department Store. I think all the shops are the same. This may create a sense of security, like McDonald's. I always buy a small assortment of yokan or individual pieces. I divide it in half and share it with someone, which is just right for us, who are on the verge of diabetes. I like the moderate firmness of the yokan here. I don't like the soft, mushy texture. "Chew your yokan well" is the motto of our household.

Now, I have come to Umeda and visited Toraya at Hankyu Department Store. It is a famous place, and although it may be a bit pricey, the taste is worth it and you will be satisfied. This time, I bought a pink-colored Monaka for 194 yen including tax. The pink color is on the outer skin, and inside is white bean paste. White bean paste is also good once in a while, with a refined sweetness. It was a treat! Release March 2016. Nankaihawks1's Gourmet Guide. Nankaihawks1's blog: http://hawks1.exblog.jp/

Toraya Small Kinds of Yokan Toraya's small-sized yokan is a bite-sized version of their classic yokan. There are 5 different flavors available: - Yoru no Ume (Night Plum): A traditional red bean yokan with a rich and intense red bean flavor. This has been a popular choice since 1819. - Omokage (Reminiscence): A yokan made with black sugar from Ishigaki Island in Okinawa. It has a subtle black sugar aftertaste. - Shinryoku (Fresh Green): A classic matcha yokan that is not too sweet and easy to eat, thanks to the addition of matcha. - Hachimitsu (Honey): A unique yokan made with Canadian clover honey, giving it a distinctive flavor. The white bean paste base complements the honey well. - Koucha (Black Tea): A surprising yokan with black tea mixed into the white bean paste, using tea from Minamata, Kumamoto. It has a delightful tea aroma when eaten. Each piece is priced at 260 yen, and you can mix and match your favorite flavors in a gift box. These small-sized yokan are easy to eat and have a good shelf life, making them a great gift option.

Paris store 35th anniversary commemorative limited product "Rum Raisin" small-sized yokan〜（≧∇≦）Recently, Japanese sweets are often enjoyed not only with Japanese tea but also with coffee, black tea, wine, and other beverages. This yokan is perfect for pairing with alcohol, not too sweet, not too heavy, with a subtle rum raisin flavor. Despite being called "Rum Raisin," this yokan from Toraya uses simple ingredients like sugar, white beans, yuzu, Fukubukuro, rum raisins, agar, and nothing more. It's a shame that it's only available for a limited time, so better stock up on it! ^ ^

I had always wanted to try this before, and my boss at work gave it to me as a gift. It's a set of 18 mini yokan (sweet bean jelly) weighing 50g each. It costs 3990 yen, which seems expensive. The set includes 6 pieces of the most famous Yonome (night plum) flavor, and 3 pieces each of matcha, black sugar, honey, and black tea flavors. When I tried them, the flavors were simple but delicious. I was most curious about the black tea flavor, and although it was tasty at first, I got a little tired of the smell of black tea as I continued eating. In the end, I felt that the simple Yonome flavor was the most delicious. Despite the high price, the yokan has a satisfying taste, so the cost performance may be good. The expiration date is one year. Enjoy♪

In 2013, it's been a hot year in Kansai - yes, with tigers, Toraya. Toraya, headquartered in Tokyo, is well known for their yokan. I received some yokan from them recently. It's like the cleanup hitter of yokan, always a happy home run. They are bite-sized yokan, but the delicious taste remains the same. In reality, you can't eat them in just one bite. The set includes "Night Plum," "Fresh Green," and "Honey." It's not clear on their website if the 3-piece set is a special offer or not. Night Plum has azuki beans that resemble white plum blossoms blooming in the darkness of night. Fresh Green has a faint matcha aroma that soothes the heart. Honey is a richly flavored yokan with a deep sweetness and elegant scent. Getting gifts like this is always a delight. Toraya is the best in Kansai after all. Lately, I've been feeling disappointed as I can't play baseball anymore. Not being able to say when I'll be able to play again is really frustrating.

This is a set of 14 pieces for 3150 yen. This small yokan set from Toraya is not only delicious, but also visually appealing and neat. It's convenient because you can easily take one out of the small box and enjoy it without getting your hands dirty. Plus, it's good for about a year if you don't open the seal. The only downside is that it's so easy to eat them quickly! The yokan in the photo is called "Omokage" and it's made with black sugar, giving it a gentle and delicious taste. There are also flavors like black tea that I haven't tried yet, so I'm looking forward to trying them. It's affordable and makes a great gift!