"This is also perfect for Father's Day." This was the realization I had when I found this brandy-infused yokan here. I knew that around June, 'Toraya' would release a limited-time coffee-flavored small yokan, which I had tried before. However, on this day in 2023, when I visited the store for the coffee yokan, my eyes were drawn to a different yokan. It was the 'Amber Melody' that I purchased along with the coffee yokan. This yokan is a combination of French brandy-infused red bean yokan and amber yokan. In the past, I had tried a sake lees-infused yokan called 'Masu no Tsuyu' from 'Toraya,' and this yokan was just as good with its rich brandy aroma and harmonious sweetness with the red bean paste. With less than 1% alcohol content, it may not be suitable for young children, making this 'Amber Melody' more suited for adults, especially fathers. For those looking for a Father's Day gift or anyone interested, I recommend considering this yokan.

There is a shop on the basement floor of Takashimaya in Namba. I sometimes visit to buy goodies. This time, I bought 5 different kinds of yokan. The size is perfect for a snack. "Yoru no Ume" has a very common yokan flavor, while the others, such as red tea, honey, and "Omokage," have unique tastes like black sugar. It's nice that each one has a different deliciousness. I have been enjoying one piece each for afternoon tea. They also have a good shelf life, so it's convenient to stock up on these sweets. You can really taste the quality of a famous store.

The other day, I bought some yokan (sweet bean jelly) from this store and it was delicious, so this time I bought a small assortment of yokan for snacks. It included three varieties: the classic "Omokage," "Night Plum," and "Fresh Green." Omokage has a strong black sugar flavor, which may be divisive, but the other varieties have a lighter taste compared to Omokage, making them easier to eat. They also have a good shelf life, so they are very convenient to have as snacks and come in handy. They are also useful for unexpected guests.

This is a famous shop located on the basement floor of Takashimaya in Namba. I sometimes buy yokan here. This time, I went to buy New Year's sweets. They come in packs of three. "Omokage" is their classic yokan made with black sugar, giving it a unique taste. The one I was looking for this time is called "Noni Ayumu," a three-layered sweet that is different from yokan but delicious. Most of the sweets at this shop have a rich history and are not flashy, making them perfect for serving guests. The yokan called "Kake Usagi" is like a rabbit candy where a rabbit shape appears no matter where you cut it. It seems to be a zodiac limited sweet.

I went to pick up my takeout at 5:55. I really wanted the summer-themed bamboo leaf-wrapped sweets from Ryogoku-ya Korekiyo, but they were busy, so I got some from Toraya instead. It's the same inside, just the packaging is more summery. It's a small box of 7 pieces of yokan with designs like clownfish, angel fish, and plum-colored seaweed. Ah, I want to go diving! (^^)

"I realized that this kind of yokan is also good." This was the feeling I had when I found this lemon-flavored yokan combined with black sugar yokan. As the end of February approaches, many Japanese confectionery shops display sweets related to the Hinamatsuri festival or spring-like cherry blossom flavored sweets. However, at this particular shop, Toraya, I found a limited-time sweet that was different from the usual offerings. It's called "Seto no Minori," which consists of white refined yokan with Setouchi lemons, layered with black sugar yokan. While Toraya usually sells a black sugar yokan called "Omokage" year-round, this was the first time I tried a combination like this. Personally, I have experienced the good combination of black sugar and lemon in the past with lemonade, so I was not surprised that it worked well in this sweet. The potentially heavy flavor of black sugar was balanced out by the refreshing aroma and acidity of the lemon, resulting in an elegant finish. While some other Japanese confectionery shops offer lemon-flavored yokan in the summer in the form of transparent jelly-like yokan called "Kohakkan," it is rare to find a lemon-infused refined yokan like "Seto no Minori." The shop recommended it for White Day, but I think it's a great choice for anyone who enjoys Japanese sweets or unique flavors, regardless of the occasion. It is a limited quantity item, so if you are interested, I recommend trying it soon before it sells out.

I heard that Toraya collaborated with Pierre Hermé, so I came to investigate. There are four collaboration products, but except for yokan, the sales locations are limited. In Kansai, you can only purchase wagashi at a store in Kyoto. The small-sized yokan "Ispahan" (5 pieces / 1,998 yen) beautifully expresses the alluring acidity of framboise, the refreshing acidity of lychee, and the elegant flavor of rose. Of course, the quality as yokan is also excellent, and you can feel the exquisite harmony of Japanese and Western flavors.

"I've never seen such a glamorous yokan before." This is my impression of the limited edition yokan "Kogata Yokan Ispahan" created in collaboration between Toraya and the popular patisserie Pierre Herme Paris to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Paris store. "Ispahan" originally refers to a type of rose, and at Pierre Herme Paris, it refers to a combination of rose, lychee, and raspberry scents. The yokan is infused with the signature flavors of Herme. While it looks similar to typical red bean yokan, when you taste it, you first experience the sweet and sour raspberry, followed by lychee, and finally the rose flavor along with the sweetness of the yokan. I've tried yokan from various stores before, but I've never encountered such a glamorous yokan like this one. The fragrance of flowers and herbs, especially when used in excess, can easily overpower the natural flavors of other ingredients. However, this yokan has a very elegant and glamorous scent, while still allowing the sweetness of the yokan base to come through. Although it is slightly more expensive than other small yokan, I believe it is worth the value. This yokan, fitting for the 40th anniversary of the Paris store, should be tried by everyone before it is no longer available for sale."

I went to buy Toraya's yokan as a souvenir, which I knew would be appreciated. I chose the cute summer limited edition packaging and requested to add a decorative cord with the message "Just a little something." It also has a good shelf life, so I bought some extra for home. It's delicious.

"Hmm, this looks like an interesting yokan." When it comes to Toraya, their yokan is quite popular, but this time I found a limited edition coffee-flavored yokan and a softer yokan than mizu-yokan. The small-sized coffee yokan is just right for one person. Made with Colombian coffee, this limited edition yokan has a nice coffee aroma without any unpleasant bitterness. It's not too sweet, and you can really appreciate how well coffee and sweet bean paste go together. The "Yururuka" yokan, with smooth red bean paste and matcha, is a yokan designed for easy eating, suitable for everyday meals as well as care food. It is soft enough to be crushed with the tongue, even softer than Toraya's summer staple mizu-yokan. I've heard that many care foods lack in flavor and aroma, but this Yururuka is made without any extra additives, using only beans, agar, sugar (plus matcha for the matcha flavor), resulting in a well-balanced and elegant taste. The coffee yokan is perfect for coffee lovers or as a Father's Day gift, while the Yururuka is a great souvenir for when visiting family. Even for those who don't usually eat yokan, I recommend giving these a try.

"I also found this interesting." On this day of Setsubun, I found some seasonal sweets for Setsubun and Valentine's Day at Takashimaya in Namba, from the famous confectionery shop "Toraya." I occasionally visit Toraya, but this time I saw limited edition sweets that I had never seen before. - Setsubun dried sweets: Limited edition dried sweets shaped like Okame, Onigawara, and Ume flowers. Made with wasanbon sugar, kinako powder, and powdered umeboshi, the fragrant kinako and subtle umeboshi flavors combined with the wasanbon sugar to create a very elegant taste. - Anyaki Black Sugar Cocoa: A new addition to the popular "anyaki" series, this sweet is made by baking white anko with egg yolk, baking powder, and cocoa black sugar. It has a rich aroma and depth of flavor from the cocoa and black sugar. - Miniature Yokan with Rum Raisins: This yokan, a traditional Japanese sweet, contains chopped rum raisins, giving it a Western-style flavor that pairs well with tea. The rum raisin yokan is not only available for a limited time but also in limited quantities, so if you're interested, make sure to visit the shop before they run out.

Namba Takashimaya - Dessert hunting. I feel like traditional Japanese sweets might be better for my body... I went to Toraya even though it's a bit pricey. Instead of yokan, I chose a manju with sweet bean paste inside. It was a bit expensive, but the quality of the bean paste was top-notch. It was soft and gooey, with a good level of sweetness. In the end, I was satisfied. The skin was also crispy. Thank you for the meal! August 2015. Nankaihawks1's gourmet guide. Nankaihawks1's blog.

At the beginning of the year, I bought a variety of small sheep-shaped sweets. I tried flavors like black tea, honey, fresh green, plum at night, and shadow. The black tea had a subtle tea aroma, not quite what I expected from traditional Japanese sweets, but still delicious. The honey flavor was a bit faint. The fresh green flavor was matcha. Plum at night is a standard sheep-shaped sweet and the most delicious in my opinion. Shadow had brown sugar in it and the packaging was black. These sweets seemed to be free of additives, which was a great feature.

Sometimes, Takashimaya sends me a booklet with beautiful sweets featured in it. One time, I saw Toraya's plum rakugan in it. The rakugan was so beautiful that it felt like a waste to eat it. I made a reservation and went to pick it up. The rakugan, meticulously crafted in a beautiful mold, looked like a work of art. But I couldn't just keep staring at it, so I decided to cut into it. It's a shame, I really wanted to keep it as it is. But I ended up eating it. Inside, there was sweet bean paste, slightly soft. The aroma of the rakugan and the gentle sweetness of the bean paste filled my mouth. It's a sweet that makes you feel the coming of spring. When enjoyed with delicious green tea, it felt like experiencing a warm spring day, even on a cold day. One rakugan costs 1,110 yen.

Here is another review from Takashimaya. This time it's about Toraya's assorted sweets, including three flavors: Ume (plum) with smooth red bean paste, Yaei (sweet bean) with red bean paste, and Sakuraori (white bean) with white bean paste. All three flavors are elegant and perfect for souvenirs. Takashimaya's basement floor never disappoints, offering a variety of gifts and treats that are always enjoyable. Whether it's for gifting or personal indulgence, I always have a great time shopping there. Though Toraya's products may be a bit pricey, the taste is sure to bring happiness to everyone. I look forward to continuing to shop at Takashimaya's basement floor in the future.

I love the Japanese sweets shop "Toraya". As it's starting to get hot, yokan (sweet red bean jelly) is also delicious, right? Today, at the foodie amusement park "Namba Takashimaya", I found a nice little gift - "Hole-in-One (2 pieces) 388 yen". It's a white monaka (wafer cake) the size of a golf ball with strained sweet red bean paste inside. It comes in a stylish case with "Hole-in-One" written on it. It would make a great gift for dads who enjoy golfing. I gave it as a gift to my golf buddies who invited me to play, and luckily I noticed the "Thank you, dad" sticker that the shop put on it, so I removed it just in time! They were happy and joked that now they can get two holes-in-one with the monaka. Next time, let's stop by the shop to buy some delicious Japanese sweets for home.

This is a gift. I received a set of traditional Japanese sweets from Toraya as a gift. There were various sweets like monaka, but I chose a small yokan to avoid having too much. Interestingly, this yokan has black tea in it. While matcha and brown sugar yokan are common, black tea is rare. It has a smooth texture rather than sticky or chewy. The amount of agar affects the texture, and this yokan is firm and smooth. The scent of black tea is not very strong, so the traditional Japanese sweet remains traditional. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.