Loquats are one of Chiba Prefecture’s specialties. Yet in northern Chiba, closer to Tokyo, there is little sense of a loquat-growing region.
A short drive from central Tokyo is unlikely to bring you across loquats. The products most commonly promoted in that part of Chiba are pears and peanuts.
So where can you find the fruit? You need to travel farther south on the Boso Peninsula. Chiba has Japan’s second-largest loquat harvest after Nagasaki. People say second place is easily forgotten, and many may never associate Chiba with loquats at all.
More than 90 percent of Chiba’s loquats are grown in Minamiboso and Tateyama, so naturally you will not encounter many during a casual trip around the north.
Still determined to buy a Chiba loquat product, I settled for a processed sweet on this occasion.
I found the simply and directly named Minamiboso Loquat Roll at Kamagaya Fusa no Eki.
Minamiboso Loquat Roll Cake by Yamasu
One box costs 600 yen.
Since Chiba ranks second in Japan for loquat production, shops carry a respectable selection of loquat-based products.
Loquats are considered a premium fruit, and opportunities to eat them are rare. In my own life, I can remember buying and eating fresh loquats properly only once.
They are seasonal and do not keep for long, so supermarkets do not carry them very often. Among fruits, they feel quite uncommon.
When I discovered a loquat-flavored roll cake for the approachable price of 600 yen, I could not resist buying it.
The package is covered in the lively orange of ripe loquats, giving it a pleasantly tropical atmosphere.
The best-before date is printed on the back and was about 45 days after purchase.
A vivid orange loquat roll cake appears.
Now, let us try it!
The fluffy sponge has the gentle sweetness and aroma of loquat.
The cream is smooth, with a texture somewhere between whipped cream and buttercream.
The refreshing loquat jam is delicious.
It does not quite have the exceptionally moist, airy plumpness of a roll cake from a specialist pastry shop, but at this price and size, 600 yen represents very good value.
Four of us shared it, so the cake disappeared in no time.
The maker, Yamasu, is also worth remembering. I have yet to encounter a disappointing souvenir from the company, so when you cannot decide what to buy, choosing a Yamasu product is a sound option.
Thank you for the treat!
Chiba has many other souvenirs worth exploring in addition to loquat products. Before your trip, please take a look at the page below.
See you next time!
Minamiboso Loquat Roll Product Info, Expiration Date, Manufacturer
| Product Name | Minamiboso Loquat Roll |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer / Seller | Yamasu Co., Ltd. |
| Address | 7-16-2 Kokubunjidai Chuo, Ichihara, Chiba |
| Expiration Date | About 45 days |
| Place of Purchase | Kamagaya Fusa no Eki |
| Price | 600 yen |
