Castella facts for kids
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| Type | Sponge cake |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Japan |
| Region or state | Nagasaki |
| Main ingredients | Flour, sugar, eggs, mizuame |
Castella (カステラ, Kasutera) is a yummy Japanese sponge cake. It is made with simple ingredients like sugar, flour, eggs, and a special starch syrup.
Today, Castella is a famous treat from Nagasaki. But it actually came to Japan a long time ago! Portuguese traders brought this cake in the 1500s. Its name comes from the Portuguese words Pão de Castela. This means "bread from Castile", which was a region in Spain.
Castella cakes are usually sold in long boxes. The cake inside is about 27 centimeters long. It is a bit like Madeira cake, another cake from Portugal. But it is most similar to pao-de-ló, which is also a Portuguese cake.
You can find similar sponge cakes in other countries too. For example, in France, it is called French: Pain d'Espagne. In Italy, it is Italian: Pan di Spagna. These names also mean "bread from Spain". This is because Castile was once a kingdom in Spain.
History of Castella Cake
In the 1500s, Portuguese sailors and traders arrived in Japan. They started to trade goods and share their culture. At that time, Nagasaki was the only Japanese port open to foreign ships. The Portuguese brought many new things to Japan. These included guns, tobacco, and even pumpkins.
They also brought Castella cake. This cake was great for sailors because it could last a long time. This was very helpful on long sea journeys.
During the Edo period, sugar was very expensive in Japan. So, Castella was a fancy dessert. Only rich people could usually afford it. The Tokugawa Shogunate, who ruled Japan, even gave Castella as a special gift to the Emperor of Japan's visitors. Over many years, the way Castella was made changed. It became sweeter and softer to suit Japanese tastes.
Delicious Varieties
Today, there are many different kinds of Castella. Some are made with powdered green tea. Others use brown sugar or honey.
You can also find Castella in different shapes. A popular treat at Japanese festivals is baby castella. These are small, bite-sized versions of the cake. They are perfect for a quick snack!
See also
In Spanish: Castella (bizcocho) para niños
