Only The Wealthy Could Eat This Intricate Japanese Sweet. Now It's A National Delicacy

for over 400 years one family in Japan has been shaping rice flour beans and sugar into tiny edible sculptures these sweets are called wagashi and making them is a precise and delicate art confectioners have to be quick and their hands have to stay at just the right temperature or the dough is ruined I don't know is the 17th generation owner of his family's shop in Kyoto so how did this dainty Arts go from a delicacy only a few enjoyed to a National Dessert we went to Kyoto in Japan to find out how these traditional sweets are still standing kiwaki learned to make wagashi from his father when he was 22 years old at 68 he trains all the workers at the family's confectionary shop kamea kyonaga because they specialize in kyogashi a type of wagashi made only in Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto causes most recipes start with simple ingredients like rice flour sugar and beans pastry chefs heat and mix it all into a paste is they strain the paste for about five minutes to remove any lumps bogashi comes in many shapes but there are three main varieties namagashi a soft and Panna mabashi ranges from gooey to dry and higashi a dry and have a longer shelf life here they're making a namagashi shaped like a Chrysanthemum flower a symbol of fall just a few drops of dye we'll color the dough to the right here of pink is getting the perfect color is essential for kiwaki um timing is everything [Music] pastry chefs have to sculpt the confectionery in about two minutes if they work too fast the design will look sloppy too slow and the sweets absorb body heat and won't turn out well [Music] this simple wooden stick called the sankakubera is the only tool they use to sculpt the petals [Music] if one line is out of place they have to start the process again thanks aunties chrysanthemums are a Japanese national symbol and represent longevity and rejuvenation the country's changing seasons shape the Suites pumpkins are made only in the fall and cherry blossoms in the spring City foreign he mostly follows old recipes and styles but has also added new ideas to the menu foreign he mixes yellow and pink food dyes to create the perfect orange hue designing each piece is all about using the white tools and techniques records show that Japanese envoys brought wagashi-like sweets from China around the 7th century sugar was a rare commodity and only Aristocrats and the wealthy could afford it kiwaki's ancestors learned how to make wagashi from a priest and opened their shop in 1617. it was one of only 28 shops chosen to cater to the Royal Family they delivered their sweets to the Palace in boxes inlaid with mother of pearl Liquors [Music] Western confectionery began arriving in Japan during the late 19th century after the country opened its ports to foreign trade wagashi literally translates to Japanese sweets and it became the term used to differentiate between the two kameham offers a wide variety of confectionery every season [Music] the shop also makes yorkan a hanamagashi type confectioners make the base with Reddit Zuki beans brown sugar and agar a gelling agent once everything is boiled they pour it into a mold and mix in walnuts the name of this yokan is sukikage which translates to Moonlight it calls for at least two hours before it's ready to serve [Music] to contrast the moist desserts the shop also makes higashi the dry sweets workers press the Daryl in traditional wooden molds this one translates to Good Fortune in Japanese higashi sweets are small in size and have bright colors and detailed designs wagashi comes in numerous shapes and styles influenced by each Region's unique history and geography [Music] peace is named after a season or a reference from Japanese classical literature but when it comes to enjoying the treat kiwaki says Simplicity is key foreign Buddhist monks introduced tea ceremonies in Japan in the 12th century the practice evolved into a social gathering for friends and became a ritual that represents Harmony and respect wagashi's sweetness made it the ultimate dessert to serve in these ceremonies to complement the bitter tea foreign across Japan from specialty shops to department stores to Street vendors despite the competition kiwaki never Cuts Corners when it comes to the materials and production methods you know foreign he is working to pass this tradition on but says the hardest part is securing workers for now sales stable way of doing this is equal to the younger generation is but long before social media kamehame's place in history was documented in this 300 year old book listing all businesses in Kyoto foreign kiowaki's past is what motivates him to look forward to the future [Music]

Channel: Business Insider

Views: 7,586,817

Keywords: Business Insider, Business News, japan, japanese, japanese sweets, wealthy, Kamayakiyonaga, Kyoto, wagashi, kyogashi

Id: I3Y_FQMFMWE

Length: 11min 35sec (695 seconds)

Published: Fri Mar 31 2023