This is the Lotte Co-Trip Funwari Puchicake Yama no Ue Roastery Lemon Donut, a mini sponge cake inspired by the popular “Lemon Donut” from Yama no Ue Roastery in Ushimado, Setouchi. The original doughnut features a sourdough base glazed with icing and topped with chopped lemon peel and a syrup-soaked lemon slice.
Each package contained eight individually sealed mini cakes.
The mini cakes presented with a circular shape measuring approximately 4.5 cm in diameter and 1.5 cm in height. Two golden sponge layers were joined by a pastel yellow lemon cream filling, with a drizzle of dark chocolate across the surface. Each layer occupied roughly one-third of the cake’s height. The structure appeared light and layered. Aroma opened with mellow sweet lemon notes.
Initial contact delivered a crisp fracture from the dark chocolate drizzle before yielding to the soft, fine-crumbed sponge. The bite detached cleanly as it reached the lemon cream centre, where the contrast between the chocolate and airy sponge became more pronounced. Through the mid-palate, the lemon cream melted to a smooth, velvety consistency, beginning with a cool, creamy sweetness reminiscent of lemon icing or a syrup-soaked lemon slice before gradually developing a bright citrus tang. The acidity became increasingly apparent without overwhelming the sweetness, closely capturing the fresh character of lemon. As the sponge and filling dissolved, the dark chocolate returned to provide a richer cocoa note that rounded out the flavour progression.
Towards the finish, the components melted into a cohesive texture, with the lingering richness of the dark chocolate balancing the lemon’s bright acidity. Aftertaste carried mellow zesty lemon notes alongside a faint bittersweet cocoa character.
Overall, a layered sponge cake with a layered flavour progression and cohesive textural development, resulting in a balanced interpretation of a lemon-filled doughnut in cake form
This Lotte Co-Trip Funwari Puchicake Yama no Ue Roastery Lemon Donut contained 8 pieces. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2026.