firmersbay
I visited the store on a regular Wednesday at 2:30 PM. It is located on the 1st floor of Daimaru Tokyo, directly connected to Yaesu North Exit of Tokyo Station. This confectionery shop sells N.Y. Caramel Sand, rooted in the Havana Sand born in the 1960s in New York. There are multiple stores at Haneda Airport, but only two outside the airport, including Sogo Yokohama Store and this one. The operation is managed by Tokyo Tamago Honpo, which owns brands such as Ginza Tamaya and CARAMER. I knew there would always be a line, but it was relatively short on this day (probably around 40 people). The line had space for 5 groups near the shop, and the rest lined up outside the building. The staff near the end of the line said the wait would be around 15 to 20 minutes. True to their word, I got to the front in 18 minutes. The N.Y. Caramel Sand comes in 5 variations, ranging from 4 pieces to 36 pieces. There were also Scotch Sand, seasonal limited editions, and assortments available. I purchased the 4-piece N.Y. Caramel Sand for ¥648. The expiration date is about 3 weeks. The box for the 4-piece set is book-shaped and looks cool. Upon opening the box, there were 4 individually wrapped cookies. I tried one first. It had a soft caramel coated in chocolate in the center, sandwiched between a buttery-flavored cookie. The surface had a firm texture, but when eaten, it was crispy. When you take a bite, the caramel stretches like melted cheese. The flavors and textures of the cookie, chocolate, and caramel blend beautifully with each chew. It's not too sweet and doesn't take away too much moisture from the mouth. As a side note, I had planned to give N.Y. Caramel Sand as a gift for White Day next year, inspired by a review from MyRebi. However, when I casually asked my wife, she revealed that our daughter had already tried it. Well, it turns out our sweets-loving daughter, who commutes through Tokyo Station, must have had it before. So, I decided to buy it this time for a regular treat.