[Souvenirs] 7 Yamagata Souvenirs

1.Fukimame

"Fukimame" is a local confectionery of Yamagata that uses green peas and is said to have been eaten since the Meiji era. The basic ingredients are beans and sugar, but each grain is small and easy to eat.

2. Noshi plum

Noshiume is made by mashing plums, kneading them into agar, spreading them thinly, and then drying them. It is a famous Yamagata confectionery that is easy to eat because it is rolled out thinly, and the sweet and sour taste of plums and unique texture are addictive. Recently, Japanese sweets that have developed further while making use of the goodness of Noshiume have been released.

3. Dashi

"Dashi" is made by chopping summer vegetables such as shiso leaves, cucumbers, eggplants, and myoga ginger and seasoning them with soy sauce. There are many ways to eat it, such as putting it on top of white rice or cold tofu, or enjoying it as a condiment for noodles such as somen. The ingredients and seasonings that are used vary from household to household, so you should be able to find your favorite flavor among the available stocks.

4. Ball konnyaku

"Tama Konjac" is often sold at Yamagata festivals, events such as cherry blossom viewing, product centers and tourist spots. They are often sold at souvenir shops, and some can be eaten simply by heating them up. Hot ball konnyaku soaked in soy sauce is a local dish that you will want to eat again and again.

5. Seasonal fruits

Yamagata is also famous for fruit cultivation, especially cherries and La France, which are famous in Japan. Souvenir shops sell not only sweets made with seasonal fruits, but also fresh fruits. You can enjoy the seasonal charm of Yamagata as a souvenir.

6. Local sake

Yamagata is known as one of Japan's leading sake-producing regions. There are sake breweries throughout the prefecture, and many kinds of sake are made using the blessed climate and culture. There are many sake that go well with the local cuisine introduced above. Some of them are sold in small bottles that are perfect as souvenirs, so it might be a good idea to enjoy them with the local cuisine you purchased, or to compare the sake that interests you.

7. Igamochi

Igamochi (registered trademark name is “Inahanamochi no Sato”) is a sweet that has been eaten in Zao Onsen for over 100 years. Three rice cakes with strained bean paste are arranged on a bamboo leaf. The mochi is topped with yellow rice with a rice flower motif, making it a cute looking sweet. It's a famous sweet that should be eaten while it's warm and soft, so why not try it while you're here?

summary

In addition to the items introduced this time, new products are being released one after another as souvenirs from Yamagata City. How about buying sweets and seasonal fruits that caught your attention while sightseeing in Yamagata as a memory of your trip?

Photos in this article provided by: Yamagata City Tourism Association