Mizu-yokan, a winter delicacy.

Fukui Prefecture's soul food is expanding nationwide.

Fukui has a unique food culture.
Mizu-yokan is generally considered a summer food. It's a traditional Japanese sweet that's even considered a summer seasonal word in haiku poetry, but in Fukui Prefecture, it's a winter tradition. Families gather around a kotatsu (heated table) and enjoy mizu-yokan. To people from other prefectures, this seems like a rather strange food culture, but the FOODIE editorial staff heard that this is a time-honored (?) winter style for the people of Fukui, so they decided to investigate its roots. Read the rest in the FOODIE magazine!

It's said that there are as many types of mizuyokan (water yokan) as there are wagashi (Japanese confectionery) shops in Fukui Prefecture. Some even say there are over 100 varieties! The differences in ingredients, preparation methods, and regional variations result in differences in color and taste, so why not take this opportunity to try and compare them?

a/ Nostalgic Flavor

The packaging features a charming illustration of a simple house in the snow. This confection is made with homemade raw bean paste, which is then kneaded into a water yokan (sweet bean jelly). It has a rich flavor thanks to the use of brown sugar from Hateruma Island in Okinawa Prefecture, and a refreshing aftertaste.
Nishikando Winter Mizu Yokan (1 piece) 331 yen
*New stock arrives every Saturday.

b/Thick yet smooth!
This long-established Japanese confectionery shop, which has been in business since the Edo period, prides itself on selling its mizuyokan (water jelly) fresh from the morning, after cooking the brown sugar and red beans from early in the morning. Despite its thick consistency, it is smooth and silky, with a perfect balance of brown sugar flavor and red bean aroma, resulting in a light and refreshing taste.
Daikokuya Echizen Confectionery: Mizu Yokan (1 piece) 518 yen
*New stock arrives every Saturday.

c/The shop that sparked the Mizu Yokan boom in Fukui Prefecture is a must-visit when it comes to Mizu Yokan. This Mizu Yokan specialty shop has been in business for 76 years, and its taste is said to be the standard in the industry. The secret to its popularity is the rich sweetness of the top-grade brown sugar from Okinawa Prefecture that is used as a secret ingredient.
Egawa Mizu Yokan (1 piece) 540 yen
*New shipments arrive every Wednesday.

d/ Normally, it's a Viennese confectionery shop.
This long-established Western-style confectionery shop carries on the recipe of its predecessor, who was a Japanese confectioner, to create this mizuyokan (water jelly). Unlike other shops, it is made without blending in brown sugar, resulting in a gentle sweetness. Its light, unobtrusive texture gives it a refined taste.
Strauss Kinshindo Echizen Specialty Mizu Yokan (1 piece) 540 yen
*New stock arrives every Saturday.

e/The rich flavor of brown sugar from Hateruma Island This water yokan (sweet bean jelly) is characterized by the rich flavor of brown sugar from Hateruma Island in Okinawa Prefecture. While making the most of the brown sugar flavor, the sweetness is surprisingly subtle. It has a light taste, so you could eat it endlessly.
Maruoka-ya Confectionery, Fukui's winter sweet: Mizu Yokan (1 piece) 540 yen
*New stock arrives every Saturday.

f/ Homemade bean paste, popular with women.
The product name is "Teiga Yokan." It is a popular item from a long-established Japanese confectionery shop in the Oda district, which is associated with Nobunaga, and is famous for its fresh dorayaki. This special water yokan, made with homemade bean paste using Hokkaido-grown adzuki beans, is refreshing and smooth, and is popular with women.
Anmaya Confectionery's Choga Yokan (1 piece) 540 yen
*New stock arrives every Saturday.

■All sweet flavors/Master craftsman's famous confections