This is the Kuze Fuku Amaou no Ichigō An Butter, the third flavour in the company’s an butter series, following the original and matcha varieties.
The spread featured Amaou strawberries from Fukuoka Prefecture and red bean paste made from Hokkaidō-grown red beans. It had a dark red-brown hue, with a fruity, jam-like strawberry sweetness complementing the earthy sweetness of red bean.
When served on shokupan, the strawberry provided a sweet-tart freshness that added depth to the red bean’s earthiness. The spread retained the signature an butter flavour, with the buttery richness came through as a smooth, creamy element, akin to melted butter. This was well balanced by the chunky red bean texture and the bright acidity of the jam-like strawberry sweetness. The combination of red bean and strawberry has proven to be a delightful pairing, and this version achieved an excellent balance. That said, the original an butter would be worth trying for a more red bean-forward experience.
This Kuze Fuku Amaou no Ichigō An Butter contained 125 g. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sendai, Japan in 2024.