Japanese sweets at Fukumameya
GOOD OLD SHOP LIKE THIS IS NEARLY EXTINCT IN MANY AREA IN JAPAN.
As I stroll around the town of Fukuoka, it is one of my day of treasure hunt to find a shop like "Fukumameya" (福豆屋). The shop sales many kinds of good old sweets such as rice crackers, bean sweets, dried fruits, chocolates and so on.
The store has been run for 85 years, used to make sweets on their own but now, most of the products you'll see at the store are supplied from companies throughout Japan. (It's more convenient.)
In quiet, compact size shop is somehow cosy. This is because the shop isn't crowded by customers and shopkeeper lady was nice and answered every question about sweets I held in my hand.
Unfortunately, the store policy (at least one of the owner's) doesn't allow picture taking. So, I bought some of sweets I find interesting and took those pictures.
Rice cracker granulated sugar, (粗目せんべい).
Price: ¥321
Granulated sugar and soy sauce on hard rice crackers. 6 rice crackers for ¥321.
Outside is hard but firm and fluffy inside. Sweet granulated sugar and soy sauce plays perfect harmony with crispy grilled rice.
Beckoning cat chocolate, (招き猫チョコレート).
Price: ¥108
16 simple taste chocolate in beckoning cat package. Taste like M&M's.
It says "Ichimanryo" (一万両) on front. It means "fortune" in Japanese.
Says "Good match, happiness". (Pronounced "Ryo-en Koufuku and written "良縁幸福".) There were different saying on each beckoning cat.
Sweet potate, (さつまいも).
Price: ¥207
I couldn't resist buying this. It says "POTATO" on the package. (Sometimes used to refer sweet potato.) Kind of thought shop owner wrote this thinking, "Even it says "potato", you know what it is." Yes ma'am, sure I do.
Dried "potato" is sprinkled with sugar. Two layers of sweetness are brought by soft munchy texture of rich flavor of sweet potato. Skin of the potato makes this sweet great because of its distinct flavor and smell.
Chocolate cookie sandwich, (チョコレートサンドクッキー).
Price: ¥192
It was impossible to take my eyes off this huge cookie. It says biscuits but cookie, right?
Two big cookies. The size reminded me of something didn't pop right out from my head.
This must be it. So big...
Chocolate is in between cookies says "biscuits". So unexpected this size of thing to be delicious but they were! Fluffy biscuits are perfect match with simple flavor chocolate.
There are so many other sweets you can buy at the store. I recommend this store if you are visiting Fukuoka. The store is located in less than 1 min walk from "Chiyokencho" subway sation.
Where to buy: "Fukumameya"
Address: 1-17-1, Chiyo, Hakata ward, Fukuoka city, Fukuoka
Open hours: 10:00 to 18:00
Closed on: Sunday and National holiday
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