This is the Raguenau Inochi Apple, a long-standing product loved since its debut in 1986. The name “Inochi” (Life) was inspired by the NHK historical drama Inochi, which aired during its release year.
The cake featured a sponge exterior with a centre of custard cream and apple sauce, made using apples grown in Aomori Prefecture.
Measuring approximately 6 cm in diameter and 3 cm in height, the sponge offered a light, fluffy texture with a fine crumb that yielded easily to the thick, smooth custard cream. The custard was rich, with an enjoyable vanilla and eggy flavour and a notable sweetness. At the core, the apple sauce contained tiny 2 mm cubes of apple, which added a subtle touch of texture. However, the apple flavour was mild, and the filling would have benefited from a tarter, more pronounced apple presence to balance the custard’s sweetness. Despite this, the combination of the feather-light sponge and creamy custard was highly enjoyable.
This Raguenau Inochi Apple contained 55 g or 1 piece. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Hirosaki, Japan in 2024.