This is the Marunaga Aisu Manjū Strawberry. The ice cream featured a centre of tsubuan made from azuki beans grown in Hokkaidō and was surrounded by ice cream containing 5% strawberry flesh and juice.
Each ice cream took the form of a five-petal plum blossom, measuring approximately 6 cm in height and 5 cm in width. The top two-thirds housed an azuki bean centre, enveloped in a 3 mm layer of strawberry ice cream, which extended to the bottom third.
The creamy ice cream had a lively strawberry flavour, with the visible strawberry bits offering a subtle tartness akin to freeze-dried strawberries, enhancing the freshness of the fruity flavour. The chunky red bean centre provided a sweet, nutty counterpart, creating a harmonious blend. Though the visual balance of azuki to ice cream seemed skewed, the textures and sweetness were finely tuned, culminating in a subtly indulgent treat that beautifully showcased both flavours and was worth repurchasing.
This Marunaga Aisu Manjū Strawberry contained 95 mL. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2024.