In Japan, Japanese sweets are above all a delicacy for the eyes like wagashi, that’s why their shapes are very original and very cute. But here we will introduce you to kintaro ame!
The fascinating design of kintaro ame
The originality of its hard candies, called kintaro ame 金太郎飴, is primarily in its design. Indeed, kintaro ame candies are superpositions of colored sweet pastes that are rolled up and piled up, very piled up even, all handmade! This forms a long little tube of abstract colors.
This one is reduced in a long and thin tube which is sliced. Then a face is revealed in its center, that of kintaro. Each candy is unique because the faces all have a different expression.
Kintaro is a hero of Japanese folklore, often exposed during the boys’ festival on May 5th, he is a child who possesses an incredible strength. According to the legends, he was so strong that he defeated a bear. He represents courage and strength.
At first, you would think that the layers are put randomly, but no, until the end we do not know which design will be formed. Here is the example of kintaro, but there are many kinds!
The candies taste like ordinary candy, but the beautiful handmade art work is impressive! It takes a good imagination to know how to create a new pattern from scratch!
The kintaro ame is the most famous but nowadays there are many contemporary designs used such as famous cartoon characters, fancy words and varieties of flowers and fruits.
In Japan, Tokyo
The kintaro ame honten 金太郎 飴 本店 store has the trademark of the traditional kintaro ame.
The store also has a wide variety of traditional Japanese candies such as chitose ame and okina ame.
- Address: 5-16-12 Negishi, Taito-Ku, Tokyo
- Open: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
- Closed: Saturday (not fixed), all Sundays, public holidays
- Website (in Japanese): https://www.kintarou.co.jp/
Awesome!! Very interesting and visualy artistic. =D
Hello, thank you for your comment! The Kintaro ame are indeed awesome, and very beautiful visually. The way they are created is very surprising!