We picked up this Eguchi Seika Dekopon Monaka from the supermarket in Kumamoto. Monaka is a type of Japanese sweet typically made of anko sandwiched between two thin crisp wafers made from mochi. This version uses a bean jam flavoured with dekopon from Kumamoto Prefecture, which is noted for its production this seedless and sweet variety of mandarin orange that has high sugar and low acidity levels.

The monaka is 6 cm in diameter and 1 cm in height with the peel of dekopon from Kumamoto Prefecture embedded into a shiro-an sandwi hed between two thin crisp wafers made from mochi.

Straight from the packaging, the monaka has only a typical rice wafer fragrance. It’s on eating, though, that the fragrant aroma of the dekopon came through bright from the shiro-an centre. The flavour starts off with the sweet citrus notes of the fruit before the small bits of peel bring a zesty finish to the monaka. The dekopon flavour dominates the shiro-an, which makes itself known mostly through the texture of the smooth paste.  The rice wafer adds a gentle crispness that contrasts the softness of the centre as well as a mellow rice flavour that complements well. Overall, this is a very enjoyable snack from Kumamoto.

This Eguchi Seika Dekopon Monaka contained 36 g. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Kumamoto, Japan in 2019.