Summer is the perfect time to enjoy a variety of Japanese sweets, like shaved ice and chilled zenzai, but this time, we’re shining the spotlight on ‘Anmitsu’! We’re focusing on Kimuraya Foods, a hidden gem in a Chiba residential area, known for offering delicious and affordable anmitsu.
Who is Kimuraya Foods?
Kimuraya Foods Ltd. is located in Wakaba Ward, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture. This unique shop, which serves as both a manufacturing site and a direct sales outlet, offers a variety of products including agar, tokoro-ten (gelled seaweed), anko (sweet red bean paste), and kuromitsu (black sugar syrup).
What’s on the menu at Kimuraya Foods?
As of August 2024, the menu at Kimuraya Foods is as follows:
- Kanten (agar) … 490 yen
- Matcha Kanten (green tea-flavored agar) … 410 yen
- Tokoroten (gelled seaweed) … 490 yen
- Tokoroten soup (per piece) … 15 yen
- Koshi-an or Ogura-an (smooth or chunky sweet red bean paste) … 270 yen
- Koshi-an or Ogura-an (1 kg) … 1,350 yen
- Kuromitsu/White Mitsu (black sugar syrup/white syrup) … 280 yen
- Kuromitsu (1 liter) … 1,100 yen
- Kuromitsu (1 sho bottle) … 1,800 yen
- Kirimochi (cut rice cakes) … 1,100 yen
- Thick Noshi Mochi (2 pieces or more, reservation required) … 1,100 yen
- Sekihan (red bean rice) (1 pack, available only on Fridays) … 220 yen
- Sekihan (1 kg, reservation required for 2 kg or more) … 1,100 yen
- Gyūhi (soft rice cake) … 660 yen
- Amazake (sweet sake) … 480 yen
- Chamame (green soybeans) … 160 yen
- Shiratama (1 kg, glutinous rice flour dumplings) … 1,400 yen
- Kuzumochi (fermented rice cake) … 370 yen
- Tengusa Kit (seaweed gelatin kit) … 432 yen
All prices are tax-excluded.
As indicated on the menu, each food item is sold individually. Unlike what you might find in a supermarket, there is no pre-packaged anmitsu cup filled with agar, kuromitsu, and other toppings. However, an example of a typical combination is displayed at the entrance of the shop: agar, kuromitsu, anko (red bean paste), and beans, priced at 1,200 yen before tax. For reference, this portion serves six people.
Kimuraya Foods’ Anmitsu with Delicious Kanten (Agar)
The author purchased the above set along with some Gyuhi (soft rice cake).
There is a generous amount of agar in the package, along with just the right amount of Ogura-an (sweet red bean paste) and Kuromitsu (black sugar syrup). The agar and Kuromitsu should be stored in the refrigerator, while the beans are kept frozen. The Gyuhi was bought at room temperature, but I placed it in the freezer after purchase for long-term storage.
The first time I bought it, I enjoyed it with just the agar and red bean paste, but this time I added some canned fruit as a topping!
Kimuraya Foods is renowned for its exceptional kanten (agar). The fresh, smooth texture of the kanten offers a perfect bite and a subtle hint of the sea.
Although kanten (agar) is often thought to be tasteless and odorless, the kanten from Kimuraya Foods has a delicate flavor that sets it apart from other products (it doesn’t have the unpleasant ‘briny’ taste some might expect). Naturally, the rich, refined flavors of the kuromitsu (black sugar syrup) and anko (red bean paste) are of the highest quality as well.
By the way, I later enjoyed a delicious cream anmitsu with vanilla ice cream.
Affordable and delicious anmitsu you won’t find anywhere else
As mentioned earlier, the anmitsu from Kimuraya Foods, which lets you fully savor the flavor of their kanten, is a delight you won’t easily find elsewhere.
And it’s affordable too! While anmitsu at a high-end sweet shop in town might cost over 1,000 yen, at Kimuraya Foods, each serving is only about 200 yen. Even if you add canned fruits or ice cream, it’s still a great deal.
Shelf Life and Storage
The shelf life and storage instructions for each item are as follows:
- Kanten (agar): 7 days from the date of purchase (soak in water and keep refrigerated)
- Kuromitsu: 2 months from the date of purchase (refrigerate after opening)
- Anko (sweet red bean paste): 1 month from the date of purchase (keep refrigerated or frozen)
- Gyuhi (soft rice cake): Keep frozen for long-term storage (do not refrigerate, as it affects the quality)
- Beans: Keep frozen
How to Get to Kimuraya Foods
There is no train station near Kimuraya Foods. For example, it takes about 35 minutes on foot from Oguradai Station on the Chiba Monorail, so driving is more convenient.
Parking is available on-site.
- Address: 964-5 Kasori-cho, Wakaba-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba
- Phone Number: 043-231-1576
What do the online reviews say?
We checked out the online reviews for Kimuraya Foods.
- ‘The flavor and texture of the kanten are incredibly delicious.’
- ‘If you’re not a fan of store-bought anmitsu, you should definitely stop by here.’
- ‘If you want to enjoy anmitsu to your heart’s content, this is the perfect place.’
- ‘A hidden gem with incredibly tasty anmitsu.’
- ‘The tokoroten and mitsumame are absolutely amazing. The texture of the anmitsu is simply irresistible.’
- ‘It tastes just like the tokoroten I used to eat as a child with a tokoroten pusher.’
There are many positive reviews, particularly highlighting the kanten and tokoroten.
Conclusion
Kimuraya Foods isn’t widely available, as they don’t have a nationwide presence or an online store, so you can’t easily purchase their products. However, once you’ve tried their kanten, you’ll find it hard to be satisfied with agar from anywhere else. If you’re curious, I highly recommend paying them a visit.
