Yōkan: A Traditional Japanese Confectionery
Guideto Japan
Food and Drink
Yōkan is a thick, jelly-like traditional confectionery. Made with sweet adzuki bean paste, it comes in a variety of forms.
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Simplicity and Versatility
Yōkan is a confectionery with a long history in Japan, with its simplicity and versatility making it one of the nation’s most popular sweets. The standard variety is neriyōkan, a dense, jelly-like concoction made with an (adzuki bean paste), sugar, water, and kanten, a thickening agent derived from boiling tengusa seaweed.
Mizuyōkan, a lighter variation often served chilled in summer, is prepared using more water (mizu in Japanese) and less kanten. Another popular type is mushiyōkan, a steamed variety thickened with wheat flour or arrowroot powder and typically containing candied chestnuts.
Mizuyōkan. (© Pixta)
Mushiyōkan with candied chestnuts. (© Pixta)
(Originally written in English. Banner photo © Pixta.)