Review of Okuri Tart
It can be purchased at Iyotetsu Takashimaya.
A luxurious version of Matsuyama’s local tart with whole chestnuts
Nickname: Kotetsu
Satisfaction: [star rating=”4″]
In much of the world, a tart means fruit or another filling baked in a pastry crust. Around Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture, however, “tart” refers to a completely different confection: a roll-cake-like sweet made by wrapping bean paste in castella sponge.
Its roots are said to reach back to the Edo period, when the lord of the Matsuyama domain brought a European-style confection containing jam in castella back from Nagasaki. The lord later devised a version using bean paste. After the Meiji period, the technique passed to Matsuyama confectioners, and the rolled tart has remained one of the city’s beloved regional sweets.
Many local companies produce their own versions. The one I would like to introduce is Okuri Tart from Hatada.
Its distinctive feature is the inclusion of whole chestnuts within the bean filling. The nutty chestnut adds richness and a satisfying change in texture to the smooth paste and soft sponge. The flavor works well with Japanese tea, but it is equally comfortable beside coffee.
The roll is scored in advance, making it easy to divide cleanly when several people are sharing it. Even better, the chestnuts are positioned so that every marked slice contains a whole piece. Nobody needs to wonder which portion received the best filling, and serving the tart becomes simple.
The wrapping also has a premium appearance, so I felt pleased that I had chosen it as a souvenir. It respects the familiar form of Matsuyama tart while making the experience more luxurious through generous chestnuts.
For someone unfamiliar with Ehime sweets, it offers an interesting story because the local meaning of “tart” differs so much from the expected pastry. For someone who already knows Matsuyama tart, the whole-chestnut version provides a special upgrade. Okuri Tart is therefore both a cultural introduction and an elegant gift.
Hatada Okuri Tart Product Info, Expiration Date, Manufacturer
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