suna8
I am writing a review again this time, despite the previous review of "consideration manju" being SGM for a certain reason. This time, I bought a popular souvenir from Kyoto instead of Osaka, as it is something that my family, the recipients of the gift, like. It's good to change things up once in a while.
- Yūko Autumn Four Seasons of Kyoto (Tax included 540 yen)
- 4 pieces of Nikki
- 3 pieces of Matcha
- 3 pieces of Strawberry
Nikki has a classic flavor, Matcha is a standard choice, and I thought Strawberry might be a bit strange, but surprisingly, it was delicious (I tried Nikki and Strawberry). The strawberry flavor was subtle, as the filling itself had a sweet potato-like taste. Thank you for the meal.
Here is some additional information and trivia:
【Yatsuhashi】
During the Meiji era, it gained popularity after being sold at Kyoto Station, and the "raw yatsuhashi" created after World War II is now more popular. Yatsuhashi is a representative souvenir of Kyoto, with 96% of people buying sweets as souvenirs in Kyoto, and yatsuhashi accounting for 45.6% of total sales (24.5% for raw yatsuhashi and 21.1% for regular yatsuhashi). It is also sold in places outside Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region, such as train stations and service areas. Yatsuhashi is said to have originated in 1689 in a tea shop on the approach to Kurodani (Konkai-Komyoji) at the Shogoin temple. The name "Yatsuhashi" is said to be derived from the shape resembling a koto, in memory of the founder of koto music, Yatsuhashi Kengyo, or from the stage in the ninth section of the "Tale of Ise," "Yatsuhashi" in Mikawa Province. Yatsuhashi is a type of hard-baked senbei made by mixing rice flour, sugar, and Nikki (cinnamon), steaming it, and then baking thinly stretched dough. It is shaped like a koto, with a curved rectangular shape that is convex along the long axis. Raw yatsuhashi is cut into a certain size without being baked, and was introduced in the 1960s. There are various types of yatsuhashi, including those made with green tea or sesame mixed into the dough, and various fillings such as fruit or chocolate. Traditional yatsuhashi used to be wrapped in bamboo leaves, but now most are vacuum-packed to extend the shelf life. Therefore, if the vacuum pack is not opened, the expiration date is approximately 9 to 11 days. However, products from manufacturers that adhere to traditional methods, without using preservatives or antioxidants, and not vacuum-packed, have a much shorter shelf life of 2 to 4 days, depending on the season. Matcha, strawberry, and chocolate-filled yatsuhashi are also made, with many varieties created. (Excerpted and quoted from Wikipedia)
In the past, it was only a baked confectionery, so even though it was popular, it was more of a sophisticated souvenir for adults, and there were few friends who bought it on school trips. During my time, elementary school students from Aichi Prefecture often went on school trips to Kyoto and Nara. When I asked my younger daughter earlier where she went on her elementary school trip, she answered "Kyona." For a moment, I wondered where that was, but then I realized it was Kyoto and Nara. Now they say "Kyona." I think I used to abbreviate it as "Kyona" back then (I still do). By the way, my older daughter seems to like raw yatsuhashi, and it was a temporary craze for her at one point. That's all for the digression.

