Minazuki is an early summer wagashi that from centuries ago commoners ate on the day that royals ate — ice.

In preparation of the 30th day of the 6 month, I (Peko), stopped by Sentaro (reviewed previously here) in the food court at Takashimaya Department Store and picked up some minazuki and chadando.

Minazuki: Minazuki is a layer of uiro with azuki beans on top. Uiro is similar to mochi, but instead of being steamed rice that has been pounded, uiro is mixture of flour, rice or, more often, wheat, water and sugar that has been streamed.

Minazuki is only eaten in June. In ancient times the imperial court celebrated the end of the first half the year on June 30 with ice. Ice, an out-of-this-world summer luxury, was frozen in winter and stored in a subterranean building that can still be seen today at the Kyoto Imperial Palace (Sento Gosho). (For more about ice and summer treats see the Gion Koishi ‘Shaved Ice’ article.)

This minazuki is green as it is green tea flavored but the traditional would be white. Both colors are available now. The white color represented ice to the commoners of ancient Kyoto.

Chadango: Chadango is a classic green tea flavored dango. Sentaro sprinkles some tea leaf on it. Chadando is available year-round.

Unwrapping Chadango and Minazuki

Chadango Served

Minazuki Served

This minazuki is green tea flavored.

Minazuki Detail

English:
English menu: none
English website: none | Japanese language website (nice photos)
Service/Staff: So-so
Price: 500 – 1,000 yen. (no sit down area, take-out only)
Location and Access: Sentaro Honten (main store) is located on Teramachi Street about a 2 minute walk south from Shijo Street.
Address: 604-8032 Kyoto-shi Shimogyo-ku Teramachi-dori Bukkou-ji agaru Nakanomachi 576
(京都市下京区寺町通り仏光寺上る中之町576)
Telephone: 075-344-0700
Near Sightseeing Spot: Sentaro Honten is located in the center of Kyoto near Shijo Kawaramachi. This area has several department stores. It is the main shopping area of Kyoto. Shijo Karasuma is about a 10 minute walk.
Map:

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Kuromitsu Dango is a simple and tasty wagashi that combines mochi, syrupy kuromitsu and powdery kinako.

What is Dango?
Dango is a popular treat in Japan; it is mochi, usually balls or cubes served impaled on a stick. It is sometimes grilled and usually has some kind of sweet sauce poured over it, or the mochi itself is sweetened and flavored.

The Ingredients
Mochi, as you probably know is ‘rice cake’, a paste made of steamed and pounded glutinous rice. Mochi comes in a plethora of tastes and forms and it is always chewy and yummy.

Kuromitsu, literally ‘black syrup’ made from kokuto ‘black sugar’, Southern Japan’s famed sugar is mineral rich and very earthy in flavor. Kuromitsu is nearly identical to molasses in consistency and quite similar in taste.

Kinako is soybean flour. Soybeans are roasted and then ground into flour. It is very healthy, containing vitamins and protein. The taste is quite similar to peanuts and is common in many dishes in Japanese cuisine. Kinako is often sweetened with sugar.

Mochi dango is squired on a stick, thick kuromitsu is poured over the top and is sprinkled generoursly with kinako, then you’ve kuromitsu dango!

A Serving of Kuromitsu Dango

Kuromitsu Dango – Detail

Kuromitsu Dango

Kuromitsu Dango ‘Bite Away’ View

This shows a cross section of the kuromitsu dango.

Kuromitsu Dango in Package

This particular store sells them in packs of 10 dango heaping with kinako.