Kurumi mochi is a specialty sweet of Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, consisting of small pieces of mochi wrapped in a green bean paste (an). The 'kurumi' in the name does not refer to walnuts (kurumi) but comes from 'kurumu,' meaning to wrap the mochi in bean paste. The originator is said to be Kanbukuro (かん袋), a long-established shop in Sakai Ward, Sakai City. According to the shop's history, it began when 和泉屋徳兵衛 opened a mochi shop in 1329 (Gentoku 1). In the middle of the Muromachi period, in Sakai, which prospered through trade with Ming China, the fifth-generation owner is said to have created it as a salty tea sweet using agricultural produce brought in from Ming. Later, when sugar arrived from Luzon (today's Philippines), sweetness was added, giving it its present flavor. In the Meiji era, 'kori kurumi mochi,' topped with shaved ice, was also created, and in summer people line up at the shop. With its combination of lightly sweetened bean paste and soft mochi, it is also introduced as a dish of Osaka Prefecture in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' 'Our Regional Cuisines' (Uchi no Kyodo Ryori).
Origin
According to Kanbukuro's history, kurumi mochi was born in the middle of the Muromachi period. At the time, Sakai prospered as a port for the tally trade (kango boeki) with Ming (China at the time). The fifth-generation owner of Kanbukuro, 和泉屋忠兵衛, is said to have ground together agricultural produce brought in from Ming with a salty seasoning and created a tea sweet. Because the mochi was wrapped (kurumu) before eating, it was named 'kurumi mochi.' It is said that later, when sugar began to be imported from Luzon, sweetness was added and it took on its present form.
History
The shop name 'Kanbukuro' (paper bag) has an anecdote related to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In 1593 (Bunroku 2), Hideyoshi invited the merchants of Sakai to thank them for their donations toward the construction of Osaka Castle. At that time, the castle keep was in the middle of having its roof tiled. The owner, 和泉屋徳左衛門, is said to have tossed tiles up onto the roof one after another, using the arm strength built up by making mochi. It is said that Hideyoshi, seeing the tiles dancing in the spring wind, praised the sight as 'like paper bags (kanbukuro) scattering' and ordered the shop to call itself Kanbukuro from then on. When ice-making technology spread in the Meiji era, 'kori kurumi mochi,' topped with shaved ice, was born.
Features
The bean paste is a vivid uguisu-iro (warbler green), and it is characterized by its restrained sweetness. Bite-sized pieces of soft mochi are wrapped in this paste and served in a bowl. The combination of the thick, smooth paste and the silky mochi, with its clean sweetness, is said to make you want to eat any number of them. The 'kori kurumi mochi,' popular in summer, is kurumi mochi topped generously with shaved ice. You can enjoy the cold ice together with the gentle sweetness of the bean paste, and it is ordered regardless of the season.
Main Ingredients
Food Culture
Sakai prospered as an international trading port in the medieval period and is also known as the town that produced Sen no Rikyu. Kurumi mochi, too, is said to have originally been created as a tea sweet. At Kanbukuro, customers seeking to cool off are said to have lined up at the shop every summer since the Meiji era. It is also available in takeout containers and is popular as a Sakai souvenir.
Famous Shops
かん袋
大阪府堺市堺区新在家町東1-2-1
A shop said to have been founded in 1329 (Gentoku 1) and regarded as the originator of kurumi mochi. In the shop, a single serving of kurumi mochi costs 450 yen, and a single serving of kori kurumi mochi costs 470 yen. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (dine-in orders until 4:45 p.m.) and is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (open on public holidays).
View details →| かん袋 Kurumi Mochi (Takeout) | Kanbukuro's kurumi mochi is also sold for takeout. In sealed containers, it costs about 1,100 yen for 2 servings and about 2,100 yen for 4 servings, and sizes are available up to 10 servings. It also comes in a jar (about 2,150 yen for 3 servings). |
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FAQ
Q. Does kurumi mochi contain walnuts (kurumi)?
A. No, it does not. 'Kurumi' is a name that comes from 'kurumu,' meaning to wrap the mochi in bean paste. According to Kanbukuro's history, it was named 'kurumi mochi' because the mochi was wrapped before eating. The green bean paste has nothing to do with walnuts.
Q. What is the origin of the shop name 'Kanbukuro'?
A. 'Kanbukuro' means a paper bag. In the time of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the shop's owner helped with the construction of Osaka Castle, tossing tiles up onto the roof one after another. It is said that Hideyoshi, seeing this, praised it as 'like paper bags scattering' and gave the shop its name.
Q. What is kori kurumi mochi?
A. It is kurumi mochi topped with shaved ice. It is said to have been born after ice-making technology arrived in the Meiji era and ice became easy to make. In summer, people seeking to cool off line up in front of Kanbukuro.