Tokyo Souvenir Review | A chewy Japanese twist on a German cake
Autumn at Haneda Airport
[Autumn decorations at Haneda Airport – Welcome to HANEDA]
Autumn in Japan is a wonderful season. The weather gets cooler, maple leaves turn beautiful shades of red and orange, and chestnut sweets start appearing everywhere.
On a recent visit to Haneda Airport in Tokyo, I came across some beautiful autumn decorations.
And that put me in the mood for something sweet!
While browsing for Japanese souvenirs at Edo Shokuhinkan, I found an interesting treat called Warabi Mochi Baumkuchen – Chestnut Flavor.
[Edo Shokuhinkan shopping area]
What Is Warabi Mochi Baumkuchen?
[Warabi Mochi Baumkuchen on display at the store]
Baumkuchen originally comes from Germany, but it has become a very popular cake in Japan.
Warabi mochi, on the other hand, is a traditional Japanese sweet known for its soft, chewy texture.
So what happens when you combine these two sweets and add a whole chestnut?
You get something quite unique!
This particular version combines layers of Baumkuchen with warabi mochi and chestnut. According to the product description, the cake also uses coffee and rum.
And yes, there’s a whole chestnut right in the middle!
Product Information
Product: Warabi Mochi Baumkuchen – Chestnut Flavor
Japanese Name: わらび餅のバウム マロン
Price: ¥1,728 (approximately US$10.80)
Quantity: 5 individually wrapped pieces
Where to Buy: Edo Shokuhinkan, Haneda Airport, Tokyo
USD price is approximate, based on ¥160 = US$1.
Souvenir Region: Kanazawa,Ishikawa Japan
Let’s Try It!
[Cut-open Baumkuchen showing the whole chestnut]
The first thing I noticed was the texture.
The outer layer was pleasantly chewy, almost like mochi. Definitely different from an ordinary Baumkuchen!
And when I cut into it, there was a big, whole chestnut sitting right in the center.
Not little chestnut pieces. A whole one!
The combination of the chewy outer layer, the layered cake, and the chestnut was quite interesting.
How Does It Taste?
What surprised me most was the sweetness.
It’s actually quite mild.
The chestnut wasn’t overly sweet, and neither was the cake. Everything worked together nicely, without any one flavor overpowering the others.
Personally, I thought the balance was very good.
But here’s one thing worth mentioning.
If you’re used to rich, sweet Western desserts, you might find this a little too subtle.
It doesn’t really have that big flavor punch.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, the delicate sweetness is part of what makes many Japanese desserts special.
Still, I think it’s something international visitors should know before buying.
A chewy texture, a whole chestnut, and a nicely balanced, mildly sweet flavor.
What I liked most was the combination of textures. The whole chestnut was also a nice surprise.
Would I buy it again?
I think so, especially during autumn when chestnut sweets are everywhere in Japan.
If you enjoy delicate Japanese desserts, this is definitely worth trying.
But if you have a serious sweet tooth, you might prefer something with a stronger flavor.
Either way, it’s a fun example of how Japan takes a familiar Western cake and gives it a uniquely Japanese twist.
A little taste of Japanese autumn, right from Haneda Airport!
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