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Introduction to Kuri Manju
Kuri Manju is a Japanese confectionery or wagashi, which is a bun or pastry related to chestnut. It’s one other number of Manju, a Japanese steamed cake stuffed with sweet Azuki paste. The sweet bean paste is frequently comprised of white beans, and sometimes mixed with chestnut paste. Kuri Manju imitates the form and color of chestnuts by putting white bean paste and boiled chestnuts in a Manju, and applying egg yolks to the highest so the colour and shape resembles the look of chestnuts. Most of them are sold all 12 months round, but there are also Kuri Manju made only in autumn when chestnuts might be taken.
If Manju is one among your favorite Japanese sweets, allow us to learn more about this variety!
Etymology
Kuri Manju in Japanese is 栗饅頭. Kuri (栗) means ‘Chestnut’. And a Manju is one among the wildly popular Japanese steamed cake wagashi in Japan. The within is frequently stuffed with red bean paste or another sweet paste. Due to this fact, Kuri Manju is a chestnut manju that’s one among number of Manju.
What’s the history of Kuri Manju?
The origin of Kuri Manju will not be clearly understood. The history of Kuri Manju appears to be relatively shallow in comparison with other Japanese sweets that entered japan with throughout the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Nonetheless, it was popular with the common people within the Edo period since distinctive things were available in each region. It began to feature sorts of Manju in each region and chestnut sort of appeared as variety.
Moreover, two of the unique chestnut Manjus were born within the Kyushu region in the midst of the Meiji period. The primary one is an oval Kuri Manju that has turn into a specialty of Ogura in Kitakyushu. Furthermore, it became a hot topic since it sold manju wrapped in Kachiguri (勝栗) throughout the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese war.
Also, the opposite one is a chestnut-shaped Manju from Nagasaki. It began to be made as a victory celebration of the Russo-Japanese war. At first, Chestnuts weren’t contained, but chestnuts were put in Manju and baked in chestnut molds, and now it’s a specialty confectionery of Nagasaki city. As well as, each at the moment are sold as representatives of Kuri Manju.
What are two different sorts of Kuri Manju?
There are two sorts of Chestnut Manju in this contemporary day. The primary kind is a Manju with bean paste product of chestnuts. And the opposite characteristic is with a chestnut-like surface and shape by applying egg yolks to the surface of the bun. Moreover, there may be also a chestnut Manju with each characteristics.
What’s Manju?
Manju is a conventional Japanese flour-based pastry. For the varieties, most have an outdoor comprised of flour, rice powder, kudzu, and buckwheat, and a filling of anko (red bean paste), often comprised of boiled adzuki beans and sugar. Sometimes, it’s made with other fillings comparable to chestnut jam (Kuri Manju). It originated in China under the name “Mantou” in Chinese, but became often known as Manju when it got here to Japan. In 1341, a Japanese envoy who got here back from China brought back mantou with him and began to sell it as ‘nara-manju’.
This was said to be the origin of Japanese Manju. Since then, it has been eaten for nearly 700 years by Japanese people. Now it will probably be present in many Japanese sweet shops. Moreover, it has a low price which one among the rationale that it’s popular.
What are the ingredients of Kuri Manju?
| Ingredients: | |
| Cake flour | 100 g |
| Sugar | 40 g |
| Butter (unsalted) | 10 g |
| Beaten egg | 40 g |
| Baking soda | 1/2 tsp |
| White Bean Paste | 180 g |
| Chestnut | 10 pcs |
| Egg Yolk | 1 pc |
| Mirin | 1/4 tspn |
| Poppy seeds |
What’s the recipe of Kuri Manju?
STEP
Preparation
Firstly, preheat the oven for 180 degrees. Mix butter, white bean paste & sugar in a big bowl. Add one beaten egg progressively. Cook the batter on low heat to make sure that sugar is totally dissolved.
STEP
Mix the flour
Sift the flour and baking powder on to batter suddenly, then mix until no more flour showing. Cover with plastic warp and put aside to rest for 20-Half-hour. Knead the dough in board with flour, then divide the kneaded dough into pieces.
STEP
Mix the filling
After then, mix the white bean paste and the chopped chestnut. This might be the filling. Divide the filling into equal portions and into round balls.
STEP
Put the filling to the dough
After dividing the kneaded dough into pieces, flatten the dough large enough to cover the filling and warp filling inside. Form it into shape of chestnut. Place it on cookie sheet line with parchment paper.
STEP
Bake
Apply a light-weight brush of ending egg wash with Mirin on top of every dough ball. You may as well add an optional poppy seeds in the opposite side of the ball. Bake in 350F (180C) oven for 18 to twenty minutes.
What the really useful shops of Kuri Manju?
Kogetsudo Major store cafe
This store also has an internet store where you possibly can buy Kuri Manju in set boxes. Their bean paste is moist and soft, and chestnuts are kneaded into it. They got a novel manufacturing method, which values shape, color, and texture, has been maintained because it is for the reason that establishment. Currently, Kogetsudo store uses chestnuts pickled in honey.
Tanaka Asahi Eido
This Japanese sweet shop specializing in Kuri Manju near the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture is one among the famous souvenir store in Nagasaki. It was founded within the thirty first 12 months of the Meiji era. They sell various sorts of Kuri Manju comparable to matcha, plum, chestnut chocolate, and more. Anyone from Japan can place an order through their online store.
Taneya
Their Kuri Manju has all the time been patronized since its founding. It has a moist and deep taste that’s wrapped in white bean paste with chestnuts. Taneya also has an internet store in Club Harie where you possibly can order Kuri Manju in sets. In Taneya, anyone can experience unchanging taste that they’re protecting since its founding.
Suya
This store sells Kuri Manju from late November to August. Their chestnut manju has a taste that makes you are feeling that you simply are getting high-class and quality Japanese sweets. Suya is one among long-established store in the world and additionally they have an internet store where you possibly can order different Japanese sweets related to chestnut comparable to chestnut natto, and more!
Akasaka Aono Confectionery
This can be a long-established store since Meiji period. Their sweet that’s representing their shop is Kuri Manju. Their Chestnut manju has a moderate sweetness of bean paste and honey chestnuts. Akasaka Aono are making chestnuts boiled in honey and considering harmony with bean paste. Anyone can even benefit from the exquisite flavor and high-quality Kuri Manju through their online store from their website as well.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Kuri Manju has turn into a well-liked Japanese confectionery in Nagasaki, Kyushu prefecture and throughout Japan. Nowadays, it will probably be bought at supermarkets, convenience stores, and in some souvenir stores. The taste of chestnut manju that has been handed down for the reason that Meiji era is straightforward, sweet, and unique. If lots of you’re wondering how does it taste like, the chestnut and white bean paste combination filling inside has a delicious sweetness, which melts within the mouth. There are literally more Kuri Manju flavors to pick from. And, it still goes well with tea or coffee. Chestnut has a very good health profit as well. Chestnuts remain a good source of antioxidants, even after cooking. So, whenever you attempt to visit Japan soon, don’t forget to purchase Kuri Manju as a souvenir!