Japanese Sweet for July - Jewel on Land 源吉兆庵の「陸乃宝珠」

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

陸之宝珠 Riku no Hoju (jewel on the land) made by Minamoto Kitchoan

I bought this yellow-green Japanese dessert at Minamoto Kitchoan in the Ginza Matsuya department store. Its name is Riku no Hoju (jewel on the land), a fresh Muscat of Alexandria grape wrapped with gyuhi (i.e., soft and thin mochi).

Minamoto Kitchoan, based in Okayama prefecture, was founded in 1947, meaning that it's relatively new compared with more than 100 or even 300 year-old sweets manufacturers in Kyoto. The sense of time of Kyoto people is unique. The most recent war for them is not WW2, but the "Onin no Ran (Onin War from 1467 to 1477)."

Looking at its plastic sample showing the cross-section, I had presumed that all of it, i.e., the skin, flesh and seeds, was made from bean paste or mochi. So, when finding at home that it was a real grape except for the skin made of gyuhi, I felt a bit disappointed, which of course is nobody's fault, but mine...

It had been a long time since I had eaten a Muscat of Alexandria grape. I enjoyed the color, taste and freshness of this jewel!

銀座松屋の源吉兆庵で陸之宝珠を買いました。店頭サンプルの断面図の種がとても精巧で、一体どうやってあんこで作っているか見たかったんです。なので、家で切ってちょっとがっかり。あんこで作った種ではなく、中身は本物のマスカットでした（早とちり｡｡）。でもおいしかったです。

源吉兆庵は1947年創業なので、京都の和菓子店に比べるとまだまだ新参者、という感じでしょうか。先の戦争を「応仁の乱」という方々に、時間の感覚で勝てる人はいないでしょうね（笑）｡