Recommend-Snacks/CandyRecommend-Snacks/Candy

Japanese "Amuse-Bouche" (Foods to Amuse the Mouth)

Traditional Japanese Snacks / Candy pair beautifully with any kind of Japanese tea. Like the French "Amuse-Bouche" their purpose is to amuse the mouth or palate, in this case, while drinking green tea. Since 16th century Japan, they have been refined and improved upon over hundreds of years to create absolute harmony of flavor between the green tea and the delicious sweet confection or savory snack. Such as the feeling you get when you have green tea and sushi together, your palate understands that this is an ideal match of flavor.

Artisans began development of Japanese tea ceremony snacks and candy in the 16th century under advisement by Rikyu Sen. Before that time, snacks and candy were only used for religious offering at the altar. Rules of the Japanese tea ceremony governed that Matcha should be served with confections or candy because Matcha at that time was more bitter than high quality Matcha of today. The ingredients were very precious, so that their addition to the tea ceremony contributed to the depth of pleasure and noble ambience. Traditional Japanese confections and candy were usually made from sugar, rice and rice syrup, wheat, and azuki or soy beans, by reasons of historic context. It was not until after the 20th century that egg and milk were used in Japanese confections. Green tea connoisseurs and artisans have continually strived to perfect the art of the tea ceremony snack so that it is the ideal complement in flavor to green tea.

Tea ceremony had strictly required expressing the beauty of nature or four seasons of Japan in confections. The intricate, colorful, and stunningly beautiful confections were created by skilled craftsmen and ingredients were all extremely rare and precious at that time. Tea ceremony confections including OHIGASHI were also called artifice confection and were available only to lords, affluent samurai, and prosperous merchants. More reasonable snacks and candy for the public were developed over time. Like the snacks for nobility, snacks for everyday folk were developed in Kyoto too, the heartland of tea ceremony, and these special snacks along with green tea from Kyoto have always held a special place in the hearts of all Japanese people.

Some of our premium snacks and candies, follow traditional thought and roles, and are made by traditional methods, taking a great deal of time and using only carefully selected ingredients. To develop them, we, Hibiki-an, partner with the best artisans in Kyoto who are willing to make special efforts.

Experience the absolute harmony between green tea and the delicious sweet confection or savory snack - your mouth will understand that this is an ideal match of flavor.

Snacks and candy offered on the altar around the 10th to 12th century

Japanese snacks and candy were also affected by Portuguese Spanish confections brought by missionaries in the 15th to 16th century.

Precious snacks and candy were also enjoyed at affluent samurai households.

Tea ceremony enormously contributed to the development of Japanese snacks and candy. Confections in this picture are for tea ceremony in the motif of fruits in autumn seasons.

Confections of this picture is for tea ceremony in summer season. It reminds us of a cool atmosphere.

OHIGASHI for tea ceremony in May

Confections for tea ceremony in the motif of peony.

Confections for tea ceremony in spring season

Confections for tea ceremony in autumn

Snacks and Candy: Limited / Winter

We at Hibiki-an added eight Japanese confectioneries which are all only available in winter. Our carefully selected items for winter confections amuse your mouth very much, and perfectly match with Japanese green tea. GOMA MOCHI rice cake and plum glace are unique texture. Japanese traditional confection of MONAKA and KUROMAME glace also provide their original flavor. Kuzu Balls, KOUJI SOBA BOLO and Dried Fruits has light texture and its aroma linger in your mouth. Rich flavor and mellow aroma of Matcha chocolate lingers on the palate and has a lovely finish.
We are certain that they will all completely please your taste bud. Please take a look! We are certain that they will all completely please your taste bud. Please take a look!
[Limited] GOMA MOCHI (rice cake with sesame): US$24.50
(Now Available: ONLY AVAILABLE this Winter season)
GOMA MOCHI means sesame rice cake in Japanese. Slightly sweet AN bean jam is wrapped in soft MOCHI rice cake and covered in plenty of GOMA sesame. The balanced taste of MOCHI with AN bean jam and GOMA sesame lingers in the mouth and has a lovely finish...
[Limited] MONAKA (Japanese wafer): US$21.00
(Now Available: ONLY AVAILABLE this Winter season)
MONAKA Japanese wafer is one of the most popular and classic confections in Japan. MONAKA Japanese wafer is composed of AN bean jam and rice wafers, and its contrast characterizes its flavor and texture. We have developed and are pleased to offer this premium MONAKA...
[Limited] RUBIA (premium plum glace): US$22.00
(Now Available: ONLY AVAILABLE this Winter season)
UME plum is one of the traditional and best-known Japanese fruits. The size of each plum is quite large, which is a sign of its high quality and premium grade, and its flesh is so juicy and chewy. The aroma and taste are well balanced, and they linger in your mouth for a long time...
[Limited] KUROMAME Glace (soy bean glace): US$19.50
(Now Available: ONLY AVAILABLE this Winter season)
This KUROMAME glace is one of the Japanese modern and premium confections. KUROMAME beans are often crunchy, but these well-soaked beans are very tender and juicy. Unique and noble nutty aroma expands at the first bite...
[Limited] KUZU Balls (handmade Japanese cracker): US$20.00
(Now Available: ONLY AVAILABLE this Winter season)
KUZU Balls are one of the KUZU arrowroot sweets, a type of traditional Japanese cracker. The texture of KUZU Balls is so crumbly and elegantly melts quickly in your mouth. You will also be able to fully enjoy the pleasant flavor of Matcha and KINAKO soybean powder...
[Limited] KOUJI SOBA BOLO (rice malt buckwheat cookies): US$14.50
(Now Available: ONLY AVAILABLE this Winter season)
SOBA BOLO are one of the most traditional Japanese confections, and are often served with Japanese green tea. KOUJI malted rice, one of the staples of Japanese food culture, is included in this cookie. A long-established store dealing with KOUJI foods for more than 300 years invented this collaboration...
[Limited] Dried ICHIGO / KAKI Fruits (strawberry / persimmon): US$14.00
(Now Available: ONLY AVAILABLE this Winter season)
Our ICHIGO strawberry is grown in Fukuoka Prefecture, located in southern Japan. This area is very famous for its strawberry growing. Our KAKI persimmon is also grown in Fukuoka Prefecture, located in southern Japan. Persimmons are immediately processed into dried fruits in order to keep fresh...
[Limited] Matcha Chocolate (premium confection): US$14.00
(Now Available: ONLY AVAILABLE this Winter season)
The round shape of chocolate is deep green due to the Matcha, and decorated in a pattern of HIKIUSU traditional millstone which is used to grind Matcha leaves. High grade Matcha which is grown in Kyoto is mixed with sweet white chocolate. Its rich flavor and mellow aroma of Matcha lingers on the palate and has a lovely finish...