Hokkaido is blessed with an extraordinary number of delicious souvenirs. Obihiro in particular is home to many excellent Western-style sweets, including Marusei Butter Sandwiches. Unfortunately, people who do not live in Hokkaido rarely have a chance to buy them.
That is where regional antenna shops become useful. Hokkaido Market on the first floor of Asakusa ROX 3G, in one of Tokyo’s most popular sightseeing districts, has an impressive selection and has become one of my favorite places.
I bought several items together, and this time I am reviewing the famous Sanporoku.
Sanporoku (Ryugetsu)
Sanporoku is a baumkuchen decorated to resemble the bark of a white birch tree.
The name Sanporoku comes from a traditional standard used when splitting firewood during Hokkaido’s pioneering era. The logs that served as vital winter fuel were cut so that three sides matched a prescribed size and the length measured six sun, hence the name meaning “three sides, six.”
Six sun is approximately 18 centimeters.
When I measured the baumkuchen with a ruler, it really was exactly 18 centimeters long.
The beautiful coating of milk chocolate and white chocolate represents the bark of a white birch.
Nearly fifty years have passed since the product was launched, yet it remains an extremely popular baumkuchen.
The package is simple but memorable.
One log costs ¥583 before tax, or ¥629 including tax, which feels very reasonable.
The ingredients list states that the eggs, sugar, wheat, and butter are all produced in Hokkaido. It truly packs in the flavors of the island.
The shelf life, printed on the side, is 21 days.
A whole log contains 938 kilocalories, so eating it all in one burst of enthusiasm would be dangerous.
The same design is printed on the box beneath the wrapping paper. Even if the box is left out at the office for everyone to share, people can still tell exactly what the sweet is.
The included leaflet explains the history and characteristics of Sanporoku.
The log is already cut neatly into ten slices.
There is no need to prepare a knife, and every cut surface looks beautifully even.
My impressions after trying Sanporoku
Now, let’s eat.
It is exceptionally moist.
The white and milk chocolate make it feel even more moist, and the cake seems to melt in the mouth.
The sweetness is elegant, giving it the flavor of a high-quality baumkuchen.
The coating pattern differs from slice to slice. Because the proportions of white and milk chocolate also vary, you can enjoy subtle changes in flavor as you work through the pieces.
The box explains the best way to eat it and recommends a temperature of around 25°C. It is tempting to chill it, but room temperature apparently brings out its best texture.
The moist texture makes it so easy to eat that I nearly finished the entire log alone before realizing it.
Its shape makes it a little awkward to hand out around the office, but as someone who loves sweets, I had no doubts about the flavor.
It was extremely delicious. Thank you for the meal!
For more recommended souvenirs from Obihiro, see the page below.
Sanporoku Product Info, Expiration Date, Manufacturer
| Product Name | Sanporoku |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer / Seller | Ryugetsu Co., Ltd. |
| Address | 8-15 Odori Minami, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan |
| Expiration Date | 21 days |
| Place of Purchase | Hokkaido specialty store |
| Price | ¥629 including tax |
