Ueno Fugetsudo is a long-established confectionery store in Tōkyō, producing Western and Japanese confectionery since 1747. One of their most popular products is gaufre wafers. And here, we have Ueno Fugetsudo Matcha Petites Gaufres, part of their seasonal flavour series.
These gaufre wafers feature a matcha cream sandwiched between two ultra thin and crispy wafers that are stamped with their signature pattern. These were petites, so smaller than the regular gaufres.
Gaufre wafers are produced using a method called hasami yaki, a press-baking method originally developed for the thin Karlsbad senbei that Ueno Fugetsudo has been producing since the late 1860s. This press-baking involves pouring a high-water content batter onto a hotplate and pressing down with a second hot plate. A high-water content batter ensures a crunchy wafer that’s very thin.
These were the lightest, crunchiest wafers I’ve had the pleasure of eating. The wafers have a deliciously toasty, slightly caramelised sweetness that’s perfect for sandwiching the rich and creamy matcha filling, which is fluffy as a cloud with a slight bitterness and lingered in the aftertaste with the buttery notes of the wafer. Being so light and so delicious, it’s easy to inhale the whole box at once. If only they didn’t have the price tag of omiyage!
This Ueno Fugetsudo Matcha Petites Gaufres contained 6 packs each with 2 biscuits. It was produced in Japan and gifted by family visiting Tōkyō, Japan in 2016.