Melonpan facts for kids
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| Type | Sweet bun |
| Place of origin | Japan |
| Main ingredients | |
A melonpan (also called melon pan or melon bread) is a yummy sweet bun. It comes from Japan and is very popular there. You can also find it in Taiwan and China.
Melonpan is made from a soft, rich dough. This dough is covered with a thin, crispy layer of cookie dough. It looks a lot like a melon, especially a rock melon or cantaloupe. Even though it's called "melonpan," it doesn't usually taste like melon. But sometimes, bakers add melon flavor to make it extra special!
You can find many kinds of melonpan. Some have chocolate chips hidden between the cookie layer and the soft dough. Others might be flavored with caramel, maple syrup, or more chocolate. Sometimes, they even have fillings like syrup, whipped cream, or custard inside. If a melonpan has a different flavor, its name might change. For example, a "maple pan" tastes like maple syrup, but it still looks like a melonpan!
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name "melonpan" is a mix of two languages. "Melon" comes from the English word for the fruit. "Pan" comes from the Portuguese word for bread. So, it's like saying "melon bread"!
Melonpan Around Japan
In some parts of Japan, like the Kansai, Chūgoku, and Shikoku areas, there's a special kind of melonpan. It has lines that spread out from the center, like rays of sunshine. People in these areas often call it "sunrise" bread. They might even call the regular melonpan with its criss-cross pattern "sunrise" too!
Melonpan vs. Pineapple Bun
Melonpan is quite similar to the pineapple bun from Hong Kong. But there are some differences! Japanese melonpan is usually lighter in weight and taste. It's also a bit drier, and its crispy outside layer is firmer. It doesn't flake off easily. The Hong Kong pineapple bun, on the other hand, is softer and moister. Its top crust tends to flake a lot, and it has a stronger butter flavor.
The Story of Melonpan
The melonpan has an interesting history! After a big war called World War I, a man named Okura Kihachiro brought a baker from Armenia to Tokyo, Japan. This baker's name was Hovhannes Ghevenian, also known as Ivan Sagoyan. He worked at a famous place called the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. It is believed that Ivan Sagoyan was the person who created the first melonpan!
Gallery
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Homemade melon buns
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Melonpan variety containing chocolate chips
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Jumbo Melonpan for sale in Asakusa
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See also
In Spanish: Meronpan para niños
