The good news is that you don't have to travel all the way to Japan to sample these Japanese treats. If not, you can get the traditional Japanese sugar candy online from a variety of vendors. You might be able to find a bag of Konpeito in your neighborhood Asian market. Konpeito comes in small round shapes with tiny pointy 'spikes' (don't be scared they are not sharp and won't sting you), making them look like little spherical stars. They come in various colors, such as white, pink, yellow, green, blue, etc. Like many traditional Japanese sweets, the colors are often elegant and subdued, mostly in pastel shades rather than gaudy or overly vivid colors. When Konpeito was first introduced to Japan, in the 16th century, sugar was seen as a luxury and a rarity. For this reason, this candy was expensive to make and often only enjoyed on special occasions. They are made using high amounts of sugar, which also contributes to the price. Shozo Ishizaka; Y. Kato; R. Takaki (1987). Science on form: proceedings of the First International Symposium (PDF). p.4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04 . Retrieved 2017-02-05. This candy was brought to Japan for the first time by a Portuguese missionary, Luis Frois, in 1569. It was among some presents to Nobunaga, the ruler of Japan of that time. The sugar candy was kept in a bottle of glass, and was called "confeitos" in Portuguese.

Konpeito: Discover the Delight of Japan’s Best Sugar Candy! Konpeito: Discover the Delight of Japan’s Best Sugar Candy!

As mentioned above, although Konpeito comes in many colors, the taste of each candy used to be relatively the same. However, today it comes in flavors such as strawberry, mango, vanilla, plum, peach, yogurt, matcha and more. Varieties can be popular at different times of the year, reflecting seasonal flavors or celebrating different occasions. Constantine Vaporis (2012). Voices of Early Modern Japan: Contemporary Accounts of Daily Life. p.99. Even though the Portuguese were expelled from Japan in 1639, pan (bread), konpeito (a type of candy), tempura Konpeito became very popular in the Edo period, when it was introduced to the common people. Konpeito was often given as a gift, and was also used as a currency. In fact, konpeito was so popular that it was even mentioned in haiku poetry! Despite their various colors, the majority of Konpeito are just plain sugar. Having said that, modern Konpeito are also manufactured with distinctive flavors. These hand-crafted, artisan Konpeito are available in a variety of flavors, including Yuzu, Matcha, Strawberry, Plum, Orange, Banana, Plain Soda, Peach, Pineapple, Vanilla, etc. Konpeito is made by a variety of specialized Wagashi makers since it is regarded as a form of traditional Japanese sweet confection known as "wagashi."Felice Fischer (2008). The art of Japanese craft: 1875 to the present. Philadelphia Museum of Art. p.60. Tokyo: Kunaicho, 2004. Yorokobi no kobako: bonbonieru no ishobi (Celebratory miniature boxes: the decorative beauty of the bonboniere). cup white granulated sugar, 1 cup water, Food flavoring of your choice, Food coloring of your choice

Konpeito - Small-Ball Shaped Japanese confectionery, Recipe - Food in Japan Konpeito - Small-Ball Shaped Japanese confectionery, Recipe -

Traditionally, despite coming in a wide variety of colors, the flavor was relatively the same and often simply sugar. Making a konpeito requires great skill. Even though they utilised sugar as an ingredient, the process of making the konpeitou’s core is already challenging. Even more challenging, and taking two weeks to complete, is the technique of growing konpeitou crystals by expert craftsmen. When you hold the konpeitou in your hands, you could experience a sense of gratitude towards the artisans considering the difficult effort required. But over time, the candy became more popular and enjoyed by people from all walks of life. These days, it plays an essential part in Japanese history, tradition, and culture. You can find it at many Japanese festivals and celebrations. Konpeitou” looks like a star and is very cute. Although it resembles candy, it is not hard like a candy, and you can enjoy the crunchy texture that crumbles when you put it in your mouth. Colourful grains such as white, pink, yellow, and yellowish green and flavoured with spices. EtymologyPDF) https://www.mod.go.jp/j/procurement/chotatsu/nds/pdf/n/n5002.pdf. {{ cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= ( help) While they started with just a handful of flavors, they now have a staggering 50 flavors to choose from. Whether you like coconut or cherry, there’s something for everyone. They even offer seasonal varieties too.