Related Article
-
Animal donut specialty shop Ikumimama branches out to wagashi with new cat face dorayaki
-
Puffed up puffer fish turn into adorable wagashi Japanese sweets
-
DIY kit from wagashi maker lets you whip up your own traditional Japanese crystal sweets
-
Japanese sweets master shows how to make a dazzling Peach and Calpis Jelly Tart
-
Famed kuzumochi sweets shop Funabashiya teams with Demon Slayer on specially packaged sweets
-
Japanese wagashi shop’s gorgeous Star Festival seasonal offerings of starry and summery sweets
Updating a 46-year best-seller
Kanō Shōjuan Co., Ltd. 株式会社叶匠寿庵, a company in Shiga Prefecture specializing in wagashi Japanese sweets, is updating "Shimeno," 標野 their famous umeshu plum wine jelly-type wagashi which has been a best-seller for the last 46 years.
Shimeno represents the quality and commitment Kanō Shōjuan's customers have come to expect. Every step of the process, from growing their own plums, making the plum wine, and creating the sweets, is conducted in-house.
Now in 2020, Shimeno has been completely updated, inside and out. First, the color and flavor has been improved. The original design was a beautiful red color derived from umeshu plum wine made from Jōshūhaku 城州白 plums, and inspired by the sunset on Lake Biwa appearing in a love song from the Man'yōshū 万葉集, one of Japan's most revered poetic compilations from classical literature.
Jōshūhaku plums | © SocialWire Co., Ltd.
The redesigned version is even more faithful to that literary source, evoking a sunset with a striking two-tone gradation from gold to crimson. The crimson color is achieved with the addition of a new cultivar of plum known as “Tsuyu Akane” 露茜 (akane 茜 being a Japanese color akin to crimson), which also imparts a delicious flavor.
Tsuyu Akane plums | © SocialWire Co., Ltd.
Finally, the shape of the jelly and its ridged design is achieved with new technology representing an industry first. Therefore, in color, shape and taste, Shimeno has been completely redesigned and improved. The new Shimeno will go on sale at Kanō Shōjuan stores from June 1, 2020 (Monday).
© SocialWire Co., Ltd.
© SocialWire Co., Ltd.
© SocialWire Co., Ltd.
For more information on Shimeno, please visit their product page here.
Product information
And even if plum or plum wine isn't to your liking, Kanō Shōjuan makes many other beautiful and delicious sweets, including seasonal specialties such as these: