Katsuyama Hayakawa “Habutae Kurumi”

Created from a strong desire to make a walnut sweet you can’t find anywhere else, Habutae Kurumi is one of Fukui Prefecture’s signature confections.

Fukui’s famed habutae mochi is inspired by “habutae silk,” a traditional craft the prefecture is proud of, and it’s a mochi sweet with a silky-smooth texture. Habutae Kurumi is made by kneading slowly simmered Japanese walnuts, along with their syrup, into habutae mochi, then sandwiching it into five layers with choux pastry.

With one bite, the sweetness of the habutae mochi and the buttery saltiness in the choux pastry come together in perfect balance. Loved as a truly one-of-a-kind treat, it blends the best of Japanese and Western sweets.

The shelf life is 5 days. It’s said to pair well not only with Japanese tea, but also with coffee. Give it a try.