If you're not sure what to buy, you can't go wrong with these! 5 Kumamoto souvenirs recommended by Kumamoto residents

*Prices include tax.

The Reiwa version of the classic sable! Fall in love with the rich butter cream

Kumamoto Kabou, a confectionery manufacturer founded 73 years ago, is known for its Amakusa Sable, a long-selling product that has been loved for over 50 years. It is said that the total sales have exceeded 1 billion pieces.

The crispy texture and gentle milky sweetness are sure to please people of all ages and genders. The long-awaited new product "Amakusa Sable Premium Butter Sandwich" (6 pieces, 1,296 yen) has been added to the lineup of the classic Kumamoto souvenir sable.

This luxurious item has the same texture as the popular sable, but is sandwiched with a generous amount of rich butter cream. The butter cream is made with "Amakusa salt," which is characterized by its mellow flavor and sharp taste, so the flavor of the butter and the sweet and salty taste are addictive.

The new, yet somehow nostalgic, butter sandwiches are individually wrapped, so they are also recommended as souvenirs to give away. If you get this new product, which just debuted on December 1, 2023, you might be ahead of the trend!

(Sales store) JAL PLAZA Aso Kumamoto Airport store

Enjoy a special time with Kuma Shochu, nurtured by the nature of Kuma

Founded in the mid-Edo period, Hayashi Sake Brewery is widely regarded as the oldest brewery of Kuma Shochu, a type of shochu made from rice.

Located in the southernmost part of Kumamoto and surrounded by beautiful mountains, Kuma is home to the clear Kuma River, one of Japan's three fastest rivers. In addition, the rice grown in the basin's fertile soil and extreme temperature differences is also a specialty. One of the masterpieces produced at Hayashi Sake Brewery is "Gokuraku" (720ml, 1,550 yen).

Gokuraku means "the height of enjoyment = time of delight" and was named with the idea of "a drink that will accompany you during a moment of enjoyment." Shochu that brings out the richness and flavor of rice mash is aged for a long period of more than three years to create a mature aroma and mellow flavor.

It goes well with sashimi and stews with Kyushu's sweet soy sauce, as well as with fermented foods such as cheese and pickles. We also recommend the rare, aged Gokuraku Shizune 1993 (720ml, 12,000 yen), which has been aged for 30 years.

Many people are addicted to the complex and rich flavor of this aged product. Enjoy it with cheese, vanilla ice cream, or other sweets.

Hayashi Sake Brewery

That flavor that the people of Kumamoto love so much has now become a sweet!

A staple of Kumamoto's local cuisine is "karashi renkon," a lotus root with lots of mustard stuffed into the holes. Tamada's "karashi renkon potato" (3 bags, 648 yen) allows you to enjoy this Kumamoto gourmet treat in the form of a snack.

Powdered mustard lotus root is generously sprinkled on crispy potato sticks to faithfully recreate that spiciness and deliciousness. The characteristic mustard kick gradually leaves your nose after a while. The pungent, addictive flavor is perfect to accompany beer or shochu.

Of course, since it is a snack, it can be stored at room temperature for long periods of time. Enjoy the familiar taste of Kumamoto by picking one up whenever you like.

(Sales store) JAL PLAZA Aso Kumamoto Airport store

The flavor stands out because it's simple! The comforting taste of seaweed and beans

"Fugamaki" was created by a seaweed specialist manufacturer founded in 1961 to bring out the new appeal of seaweed. The crispy texture of the seaweed and the fragrant aroma of beans are irresistible. This product, which allows you to feel the Japanese tradition of seaweed and beans, is also popular with foreign tourists.

"Fugamaki" is made with soybeans, pistachios, peanuts, etc., seasoned with soy sauce and wasabi, and carefully hand-rolled one by one in vitamin- and mineral-rich nori seaweed harvested from the Ariake Sea.

We also recommend the rice cracker-like "arare" (crackers) made from cheese-flavored rice crackers made from domestically produced glutinous rice. If you can't decide which one to choose because there are so many variations, we recommend the "mixed pack" (15 pieces, 1,296 yen).

This great value bag is packed with the popular flavors of soy soybeans, soy peanuts, soy cashew nuts, wasabi soybeans, and salted peanuts. Another great thing about it is that you can eat it without getting your hands dirty.

(Sales store) JAL PLAZA Aso Kumamoto Airport store

Perfect as a snack with tea. Award-winning bite-sized steamed buns

Kasho Kyukodo is a long-established confectionery shop that was founded 55 years ago. They offer a wide range of products, from classic Japanese sweets such as monaka and senbei to Western sweets such as baumkuchen and cheesecake. Among their products, we recommend the Yuzu Moe (10 pieces, 756 yen), which won the highest award, the Honorary President's Award, at the 25th National Confectionery Exposition.

These bite-sized steamed buns are made with white bean paste wrapped in a chewy skin containing brown sugar and filled with yuzu jam in the middle. The bitter flavor of the yuzu and the sweetness of the brown sugar combine in your mouth to create an experience like no other.

"Imo Moe" (10 pieces, 756 yen) is also popular, with sweet potato paste wrapped in the same skin as Yuzu Moe. There is thick brown sugar syrup in the center. Both have a shelf life of 3 days, so be sure to enjoy them as soon as possible.

Aso's confectionery workshop, Kasho Kyukodo

There is a wide variety of Kumamoto souvenirs, including sweets, salty foods, alcoholic drinks, etc. Be sure to get a product that you can only get here and enjoy the charms of Kumamoto to the fullest.

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