10 sweet facts about the Japanese sweet tooth (2024)

FAQs

What is a fact about candy in Japan? ›

Emperor Jinmu, Japan's first emperor, is said to have first made candy to bring happiness to people and peace to the country with its sweet taste. Candy became more widespread as part of people's lives in the Edo Period (1603–1867) when they were eaten as sweets by the common people.

Dorayaki. Dorayaki is a favorite traditional Japanese sweet for people of all ages in Japan, from small children to the elderly, and it's even the prefered snack of the beloved animated character Doraemon.

The history of Japanese sweets begins with mochi, a sticky rice cake, known as the oldest processed food in Japan. After the year 630, the sweets were influenced by karagashi (Chinese pastries) which kentoshi (Japanese envoys to China) brought back to Japan during the period when they were sent to China 19 times.

Dagashi (Japanese: 駄菓子) refers to cheap candies and snack foods. Dagashi are comparable to American penny candy.

Taiyaki. Taiyaki is one of the most popular Japanese desserts due to its iconic fish shape.

Tajimamori (田道間守) is a Japanese legendary figure of the Kofun period, also worshipped as the god of sweets.

Namagashi (lit. raw sweets) are traditional Japanese sweets that are most often associated with wagashi. They are made of rice flour and a sweet bean paste filling, and are delicately shaped by hand to reflect the season. Namagashi are served at the tea ceremony.

Anko-Filled Cakes and Pastries (Taiyaki, Dorayaki, Imagawayaki) Cakes and pastries filled with anko (sweetened red bean paste) are highly popular in Japan. One example is taiyaki, a red bean-filled cake shaped like a red snapper fish, which is believed to be a sign of good luck in Japan.

Seijokankidan 's history far exceeds 1,000 years, though, as it was first introduced to Japan through a Japanese envoy to China, who brought Chinese treats called “Karakudamono” into Japan, along with Buddhism.

The origins of confectionery can be traced back to about 2000BC to the ancient Egyptians who made sweets by combining fruits and nuts with honey. The Romans, Greeks and Chinese made sweets with sesame seeds. The Aztecs in Mexico used the cocoa bean to make a bitter drink over 3000 years ago.

What candy is good luck in Japan? ›

The Japanese pronunciation, Kitto Katto sounds a lot like the Japanese phrase Kitto Katsu, which means “you will surely win” — that's how people started gifting them as good luck charms.

And then there's the taste. Japanese candy is, on the whole, more delicious. The orange is tangier, the lemon is more mouth-puckering, and the caramel is creamier—the chocolate is about the same, but it comes wrapped around interesting things, like toasted barley.

Japanese candy comes in all shapes, forms, and flavors like chocolate, milk, strawberry, caramel, sweet corn, green tea, and from bizarre Japanese cuisine.

Traveling with small children to a foreign country can be intimidating. Luckily, Japan is a destination that is easy and safe to explore with kids—thanks to the well-thought-out infrastructure and kids-friendly amenities.

Japan: 15 Million Years Old

Japan became an influential country only during the Meiji Restoration era. This oldest country in Asia is also amongst the oldest countries in the world.

Japanese people only eat dessert for rare occasions. Many Japanese desserts also contains healthy ingredients like rice and red bean, such as mochi. Their sweets are considered as low sugar and low fat, so those desserts are still healthy.

“Wagashi are considered more healthful because they are made entirely from plant-based ingredients,” executive director Mitsuo Yabu told me in an interview in the association's office in Tokyo. “There are some exceptions, but generally wagashi don't include any animal products.

The North American Deserts

North America has four major deserts: Great Basin, Mohave, Chihuahuan and Sonoran. All but the Sonoran Desert have cold winters.

What Japanese desserts are purple? ›

Okashi Goten, a company based in Okinawa, is a clear example of a classic sweet. Their products, especially the purple sweet potato tart, are a beloved and popular symbol among islanders and throughout Japan.

Give in to your sweet tooth with these yummy Japanese candies showcasing Fujiya's mascot, Peko-chan! She can be found in the packaging of Milky candies!

Shichif*ckujin are Japan's Seven Lucky Gods: Hotei, f*ckurokuji, Jurojin, Ebisu, Daikoku, Benzaiten and Bishamonten.

Oshun has also been described as the maintainer of spiritual balance or mother of sweet things. One myth highlights Oshun as the central figure in the creation of human beings. The Yoruba people believe that the orishas were sent by Olodumare, who is considered the Supreme God, to populate the Earth.

It has smaller crystals than granulated sugar, and it gains a "moister" texture by adding invert sugar, which makes it blend easily with ingredients and gives it a "deep" sweetness. Japanese people prefer such flavors, so white soft sugar is right for Japanese cuisine.

Kanten is a popular traditional Japanese jelly which people enjoy most as a summer dessert. It's made of Kanten powder that is also called Vegan Gelatin and is similar to Agar powder. Usually, the mixture of kanten and fruit juice is used to create Fruit Kanten.

The traditional Japanese diet is rich in vegetables, has small portion sizes, and is naturally low in added sugar and fat. These factors all contribute to a low calorie count ( 18 ). In addition, Japanese culture encourages eating until only 80% full.

Mochi ice cream is a popular Japanese dessert made from a sweet pounded rice dough wrapped around ice cream. Its texture is similar to the chew of boba and gives a fun spin to homemade ice cream. We love enjoying mochi after a filling meal, like this chicken yakisoba recipe.

Uirō is a traditional Japanese steamed cake made of rice flour and sugar. Assorted yatsuhashi. The flavors, from top to bottom, are tofu, cinnamon, sesame.

There have been more than 300 limited-edition seasonal and regional flavors of Kit Kat chocolate bars produced in Japan since 2000, many exclusive to the country and not produced elsewhere.

Does Japan have American candy? ›

We have M&Ms here in Japan as well. Hershey's are pretty common here as well. Although there are a few branches in Japan, many people like See's candy. I prefer Reese's too and I have some friends also have tasted it and quite liked it.

How long does Kohakutou candy last? You can store the candy in an airtight container at room temperature for about two weeks before they start to dry out and get too hard.

The word “dessert” emerged in the seventeenth century, derived from the French verb “desservir,” meaning “to clear the table” in English. Etiquette dictated that napkins and tablecloths be changed before the final course, which at the time was a delicate fruit course.

Sucrose is simply the chemical name for sugar, the simple carbohydrate we know and love that is produced naturally in all plants, including fruits, vegetables and even nuts.

Making Life Sweeter Since 8000 BCE

Sugar is one of the world's oldest documented commodities, and at one time, it was so valuable that people locked it up in a sugar safe!

Conventional table sugar is pure sucrose, made from either sugar cane or sugar beet. Although sucrose is commonly known as 'sugar', the term 'sugars' refers to all mono and disaccharides such as fructose, lactose and glucose, that can be naturally occurring in foods or added.

The earliest sweet was, of course, honey, which people have eaten since prehistoric times. In the Middle Ages, rich people ate desserts like preserved fruits, jelly and dried fruit, and wafers made from batter.

Apart from bearing the lofty distinction as the world's oldest dessert, ashure retains important spiritual significance today across Anatolia, the lands comprising the majority of modern-day Turkey.

The idea of candy began by the caveman who ate honey. The first candy was used by the Ancient Egyptians for cult purposes. In ancient times, Egyptians, Arabs, and Chinese made candies with fruits and nuts that caramelized with honey.

What are some fun facts about candy? ›

The average person in the United States eats about 24 pounds of candy per year. The first lollipop machine was invented in 1908 by George Smith, who used a hand-crank to make his "Prelo Pop." The world's oldest candy company is still in operation today – NECCO (New England Confectionery Company) was founded in 1847.

The first candy was used by the Ancient Egyptians for cult purposes. In ancient times, Egyptians, Arabs, and Chinese made candies with fruits and nuts that caramelized with honey. The two oldest candy types are licorice and ginger. The historical roots of licorice are found in the early years of man's appearance.

Consumption of confectionary rises between the ages of 25-34 and 35-44 and then declines as the consumer gets older. The majority of confectionary consumption is done by consumers in the age range of 25-45. Consumers over the age of 34 purchase more candy than those between the ages of 18 and 34.

The word candy entered the English language from the Old French çucre candi ("sugar candy"). The French term probably has earlier roots in the Arabic qandi, Persian qand and Sanskrit khanda, all words for sugar. Sugarcane is indigenous to tropical South and Southeast Asia.

In Japan, people often enjoy eating sweet things like fruit or confectionery in between meals. Many different sweets and snacks have been created using uniquely Japanese ideas.