Sabou Kikuchi

Umegae - Dazaifu's Specialty

If you go to visit Dazaifu Tenmangu, you'll know the specialty food there: umegae or sweet bean jam filled mochi, roasted with a plum flower design in the center. This tea shop was recommended as the place to go for umegae by a student - there are a ton of shops selling them. I kind of assumed they are all the same, but there are subtle differences because they are handmade and the bean paste is also handmade, so the taste can vary. Of course it was one of the only shops with a line, so you know that means it's good. What really made an impression on me is the old fashioned way that Kikuchi still wraps up the umegaemochi for omiyage. Each one was individually wrapped in plastic, then wrapped in a paper 'sasa' wrapper, then in colorful paper and tied with a string. It was only then placed into a small plastic bag. The five umegaemochi were still warm hours later and tasted great with some tea after dinner. (They last for up to four days and we ate the remaining three for breakfast the next day.) Of course, you can also eat inside the shop and get other traditional gifts like tea and umeboshi (ume, or plums, are famous in the city). You can watch staff making them and wrapping them up while waiting. They are 120 yen each, but I got a pack of 5 to go for 600 yen. http://umegae-kikuchi.com/