These four sweets were invented in Japan!
Jul 08, 2020
Japan has a strong love for cakes and desserts, and the country is renowned for its adorable and aesthetically pleasing desserts.
The country is a heaven for sweet lovers, and it’s not uncommon for tourist to include Japanese cakes and desserts into their agenda.
Unlike other countries, Japan has a very unique taste in desserts – they are somewhat less sweet than the sweets in Western countries. Sometimes the desserts can taste a little bit bitter, and we call that taste as otona no amasa – a type of sweetness that appeals to adults – means that even non sweet lovers can enjoy desserts in Japan.
Today, we introduce four popular desserts, which all were invented in Japan.
Coffee Jelly
Coffee jelly is a very popular Japanese dessert, and people usually eat coffee jelly in the summer.
It’s made of coffee or espresso flavored sweet jelly topped with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or sweetened milk.
Invented in early 1900s, coffee jelly has become a favorite treat ever since.
Pudding à la mode
Pudding à la mode was invented and served for the first time at a restaurant in Hotel New Grand in Yokohama during the postwar era.
The term à la mode refers to desserts that are served together with ice cream, such as pie, and pudding à la mode is a custard pudding served together with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and various fruits.
Mille crepe
Despite having a French name, mille crepe, which literally means a thousand layers of crepe, is a dessert that was invented in Japan.
Just like its name, mille crepe consists multiple layers of crepe filled with custard and freshly whipped cream.
Usually, a mille crepe cake has a minimum of 20 layers of crepe, but sometimes it can be more than that if the cake goes thicker.
Strawberry shortcake
Unlike the strawberry shortcake in Western countries (sweet biscuits / scones topped with strawberries and whipped cream), the strawberry shortcake in Japan is a layered sponge cake with strawberries and whipped cream fillings, and whipped cream frosting.
Often served on birthdays and Christmas, strawberry shortcake, or called as ichigo no shōto kēki (イチゴのショートケーキ) in Japanese, is perhaps the most popular cake in Japan.
Can be purchased from almost every cake shops, you can find seasonal fruits shortcakes too.
We share all interesting stories about Japan; travel guide, food, shopping, and many trivial stories. If you’re the one who loves Japan, this is your area.