Ichimonjiya Wasuke facts for kids
Ichimonjiya Wasuke (Japanese: 一文字屋和輔) is a very old and famous sweet shop in Kyoto, Japan. It started way back in the year 1000! Imagine, it's been making sweets for over 1000 years. The same family has run it for 25 generations. That's a lot of family members making delicious treats! The building you see today is about 300 years old. It has cozy benches and small tables for people to enjoy their sweets. Local people often call the shop "Ichiwa" for short.
Contents
A Sweet History: Why Ichimonjiya Wasuke Started
This special shop began its journey to help people visiting a nearby holy place. The Imamiya Shrine was founded in 994, just a few years before the shop opened. People would travel long distances to pray there. After their prayers, they needed a nice place to rest and get some refreshments. That's where Ichimonjiya Wasuke came in, offering tasty treats to tired travelers.
What Kind of Sweets Does Ichimonjiya Wasuke Make?
The shop is famous for making wagashi. These are traditional Japanese sweets. They are often served with green tea. The most famous sweet they make is called aburi-mochi.
What is Aburi-Mochi?
Aburi-mochi is a special kind of roasted rice cake. It's made from sticky rice that's pounded until it's soft and chewy. Then, it's lightly roasted. After roasting, it's covered in a sweet miso sauce. It's a simple but very delicious treat that people have enjoyed for centuries. The shop also serves fresh green tea to go with the sweets.
How the Shop Has Changed Over Time
Even though Ichimonjiya Wasuke is very old, it has made a few small changes over the years. These changes help it keep up with modern times.
Water and Mochi Making
Long ago, the shop used water from a small spring right in its cellar to make the mochi. But now, health officials don't allow shops to use well water. So, the shop uses regular water instead. Also, pounding rice to make mochi used to be done by hand. Now, they use a special machine. This machine helps them pound the rice perfectly every time.
How People Pay
After World War II, the way people paid for their sweets changed. Before, the shop used an "honor system." This meant people would pay what they thought was fair. But now, they have a set price for each plate of aburi-mochi. This makes it easier for everyone.
See also
- List of oldest companies
