I had a matcha cream dorayaki. It had a rich filling of red bean paste and matcha cream. The soft and fluffy texture of the cake was infused with matcha, giving it a deep flavor. Inside the fluffy cake, the unique bitterness of Uji matcha cream paired well with the Hokkaido red bean paste. They also have a chestnut dorayaki on the menu, which I would like to try next time. This place seems popular for tea-based sweets, so I'm looking forward to trying their green tea daifuku and matcha warabi mochi next time.

Is the rainy season over yet in 2014? It's the season for giving gifts to express gratitude. When my sons were in elementary and junior high school, they received sweets from a teacher who helped them with their studies. The teacher, who was a student at Osaka University at the time, is now a middle-aged man and a father of two. He is dedicated to his research at a well-known university. His wife, Mari, always selects and sends the gifts. This time, we received the Warabi Mochi from Uji, a creative confectionery shop called "Kineya." Warabi Mochi is known for its refreshing taste, making it a perfect summer treat, but it can be enjoyed all year round. The bite-sized pieces are easy to eat, with a chewy and smooth texture. Inside the Warabi Mochi is a generous amount of black honey that melts and oozes out, creating a moment of bliss. Despite its rich texture, it leaves a refreshing aftertaste, capturing the essence of the season. The sprinkled soybean flour adds a balanced sweetness, making each bite delicious. It's a refined delicacy that embodies the elegance of Kyoto. Thank you for the meal.

This shop is a bit hidden from the main road, so it's easy to miss if you don't know it's there (lol). You can also purchase their products at some supermarkets near Uji Station and department stores in Kyoto. I usually buy their products at department stores, but this time I decided to visit the shop directly because I wanted to try their "Ume Komori" sweet that I saw last time I visited. This was my second visit. I have never seen "Ume Komori" being sold at supermarkets or department stores before. This time, I bought three items: "Ume Komori (180 yen)," "Kuri Komori (180 yen)," and "Nama Cream Dorayaki (230 yen)." The Ume Komori was a steamed bun shaped like a green plum, filled with white bean paste and a whole candied plum inside! The refined white bean paste was delicious, and the plum inside was moist and soft. The Kuri Komori was a regular steamed bun with red bean paste inside. I bought the one with red bean paste. The paste was simple and had a firm texture, similar to sweet red beans. It also had one chestnut inside. The Nama Cream Dorayaki was made with dorayaki batter kneaded with matcha, filled with red bean paste and matcha-flavored cream. The batter had a dense texture. I think it would have been better without the matcha in the batter. The red bean paste and matcha cream inside were delicious. The Ume Komori and Kuri Komori are only available at the shop, but I didn't see many traditional sweets (like ohagi or mochi) that are commonly found at department stores. The number of displayed products was limited, as they seem to focus on manufacturing. Also, I noticed that they are closed on Sundays. I once went there on a Sunday and found it closed. The shop is closed on Sundays, but you can still buy their products at supermarkets and department stores. I often buy Kinoya's wagashi at department stores, and their monaka is very delicious. The red bean paste and monaka shell are separate, and you sandwich them together just before eating. The shell is crispy, and the red bean paste is mildly sweet with a strong red bean flavor. My favorite is the monaka, but the simple white mochi was also delicious. It had a strong mochi rice flavor, and the mochi itself tasted great.