Karukan facts for kids
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| Type | Confectionery |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Japan |
| Main ingredients | Rice flour, sugar, Japanese yam, water, red bean paste |
Karukan (軽羹) is a special Japanese sweet from Kyūshū, one of Japan's main islands. Its name means "light Yōkan", which is another type of Japanese jelly sweet.
Originally, karukan was a long block-shaped sweet. But these days, the most common type is karukan manjū. This version has a yummy filling of red bean paste inside.
How Karukan is Made
Karukan is made from a special karukan rice flour, sugar, and grated Japanese yam. Water is added to these ingredients. The mixture is then kneaded, which means it's pressed and folded. After that, it is steamed. This steaming process makes karukan soft and bouncy, like a white sponge.
The Story of Karukan
Karukan first appeared a long time ago, between 1686 and 1715. This was during the time of the Satsuma Domain. A "domain" was like a region ruled by a powerful family in old Japan.
Karukan became popular in Satsuma because two main ingredients were easy to find there. Yams, which are a key part of karukan, grew wild in the area. Also, sugar was easy to get from the nearby Ryukyu Islands and Amami Islands.
There's another idea about how karukan started. Some say it was invented in 1854. A sweet maker was invited by Shimazu Nariakira, who was the leader of the Satsuma Domain.
There was also a steamed cake called fukuregashi made in the area. It used brown sugar, flour, and baking soda. Many believe that karukan was inspired by this older sweet.
Where Karukan is Popular
Today, many sweet shops in Kagoshima, Japan, make karukan. It's also sold widely in Miyazaki Prefecture and made there too.
In Beppu, Oita, sweet shops have been making and selling karukan since 1952. It's a very famous souvenir that people buy when they visit Beppu. You can also find factories that make and sell karukan in Fukuoka Prefecture.
