Japanese sweet shop will open in Kahala Mall
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM
Bunny-shaped manju may be purchased in a matching carrying bag at Minamoto Kitchoan.
MINAMOTO KITCHOAN
ShimizuÂhakuto is a deluxe white peach jelly.
When Americans imagine farm-fresh products, we have visions of hardy bounty that soaks in all the benefits that the elements have to offer: Think vibrant, abundant “Florida sunshine”-infused oranges. In Japan, the land of meticulous care and unwavering attention to detail, things can be a bit different.
Consider the famous white peaches of Okayama Prefecture in western Japan, a star product of the line at Minamoto Kitchoan, an Okayama confectionery that opened its doors nearly 70 years ago. The company operates a store at Ala Moana Center and will open a Kahala Mall location on Thursday.
Peaches grown for the confectionery by select farmers are carefully tended and monitored. When it becomes clear which fruit on a tree is doing best, the rest of the fruit is picked off to allow all the tree’s nutritive energy to be invested in the few remaining peaches. While still hanging on the tree these are wrapped in a special washi paper to protect the pristine fruit from direct sunlight and to keep as much moisture in the flesh as possible.
The result: “These peaches are so juicy and sweet — they’re amazing,” said Yayoi Akana, a manager for the company’s Hawaii operations.
Minamoto Kitchoan turns these special peaches into decidedly upscale, traditional Japanese confections. Among its most popular products is the Shimizuhakuto ($12 apiece), a white peach “jelly” — not the kind you’d spread over toast, but a luxurious puree of the fruit encased in a vacuum-sealed, domed cup.
An even finer confection is the Tosenka ($20 apiece), a whole white peach encapsulated in a gelatin that preserves its aroma and freshness. Mochi include a hakuto (white peach) selection made with the peaches culled early from trees; among various manju are bite-sized usagi (rabbit)- themed morsels filled with white bean and diced yuzu. Other items: cream-filled waffle senbei, savory rice crackers and fruit sherbets that are to be frozen and eaten as a cold treat.
The company also makes Western-style confections under the Chocolat Royal Rokumeikan brand. These include Belgian- style chocolates, gummy fruit- flavored candies, cake and cookies.
The Kahala store’s opening will be the latest addition to the more than 220 Minamoto Kitchoan shops across the globe, including those in London, Thailand, Malaysia, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
5 responses to “Japanese sweet shop will open in Kahala Mall”
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Hawaii people must be well off to afford $12 and $20 peach jellies. Please tell me again why people in Hawaii keep complaining about the high cost of living.
It will be located in KAHALA mall (hint, hint).
Japanese and those who like Japanese treats like these aren’t the hefty, obese Americans like you probably are. They don’t shovel sweets down their gullets two handfuls at a time. You have one of these jellies as a special dessert or treat. The point is to savor the intense flavors brought forth by the care and time put into each fruit. To spend $12 on a jelly of this quality is reasonable. You can spend just as much on one craft beer. People spend just as much on crappy popcorn and soda at the movies. High cost of living is not related whatsoever to these treats. High cost of living is more relevant when it comes to must-spend items like rent and what percentage of take-home income the average resident spends on rent.
Whatever your views are, trying to insult me for my view shows lack of class. FYI I am not “hefty, obese” and don’t “shovel sweets down their gullets two handfuls at a time”. Trust me, lots of people in Kahala also complain about the high cost of living and I know because I live in Kahala. I actually don’t complain about it because I have more than enough money since I don’t drink “craft beer” or any other alcohol and I don’t buy “crappy popcorn and soda at the movies”.
Do what you wish and say what you want but don’t go around insulting people for their comments. Keep a civil tongue and show some class.
At first I thought the title was “Japanese sweat shop will open in Kahala Mall.”