{"product_id":"monaka-sakura-5555125-mm","title":"Monaka sakura 55*55*12.5 mm","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoListParagraph\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c\/span\u003eThe filling is placed between two shells. Creating the monaka shell is a particularly crucial step. After steaming and drying the glutinous rice, it is ground into a powder and mixed with water and sugar to form a dough. This dough is then poured into moulds and baked at high temperature. The baking process requires great skill and experience, as the timing and temperature must be precisely controlled. This process produces an extremely fine and crispy texture far superior to the wafer known in the West.\u0026nbsp;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTraditionally, the filling is made from sweetened red bean paste (anko), but common variations also exist using white bean paste, chestnut paste, or even ice cream.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is said that the name \"monaka\" derives from a poem by Minamoto no Shitago, a poet of the Heian period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe story goes that during a celebration held at the imperial court to admire the moon, the nobles present drew a connection between the moon described in this poem and the round white mochi served at the gathering. They reportedly named these sweets \"monaka no tsuki\" (moon in the middle), combining the imagery of the poem with the appearance of the confection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt should be noted that in the middle of the Edo period (1603–1868), a confection called \"monaka no tsuki\" was sold by a senbei shop in Yoshiwara.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, it was not until the Meiji era (1868–1912) that the process of filling monaka and giving them a more functional or decorative shape was developed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom that point on, these small shells grew in popularity and are now regarded in Japan as a work of culinary art, renowned for their richness of textures (crispy or soft) and flavours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMonaka holds an important place in Japanese confectionery culture. Its filling and shape generally evolve according to the seasons or celebrations throughout the year.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"KAGADANE SHOKUHIN KOGYO","offers":[{"title":"65 pairs","offer_id":54111388336461,"sku":"NISMONAKC125-S","price":35.07,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false},{"title":"650 pairs","offer_id":54111388369229,"sku":"NISMONAKC125","price":286.26,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0962\/6438\/8941\/files\/MONAKC125-s.webp?v=1782200019","url":"https:\/\/www.nishikidori.com\/en\/products\/monaka-sakura-5555125-mm","provider":"Nishikidori","version":"1.0","type":"link"}