Here is another souvenir I purchased at Michi-no-Eki Goka in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Many visitors to Ibaraki head for Mount Tsukuba, and one of the things for which the mountain is famous is gama no abura, the traditional “toad oil” associated with old-fashioned street performances.
Even when you are nowhere near Mount Tsukuba, you will see plenty of gama-related products and frog-themed goods around the prefecture.
Come to think of it, the highway stamp at Yatabe-Higashi Parking Area also featured gama no abura.
If I was going to buy something, I wanted it to show a frog and look delicious too, so I chose a boxed sweet called Gama Taisho.
Gama Taisho (Tsukuba Bussan)
A box of 12 costs ¥648.
The close-up illustration of a frog has tremendous presence.
Even my two-year-old, who was just becoming much more talkative, came running over shouting, “Frog!”
The frog attracts so much attention that I initially missed the quiet phrase printed beside it: “A sweet that will remain in your heart forever.”
It is written so modestly that I only just noticed it.
The best-before date is printed on the back. The box I bought had about two months remaining, which is reassuringly long.
The contents are enclosed in a high-quality airtight polyethylene bag.
The row of frog illustrations looks adorable.
Out comes a frog-shaped manju. I was glad that the sweet inside was not simply an ordinary round bun.
My impressions after trying Gama Taisho
It already feels moist when held.
In fact, it is so moist that the frog-shaped dough sticks to the individual wrapper and feels as though it might fall apart, so peel the wrapper away carefully.
Now, let’s eat.
It has a soft, fluffy, and moist texture.
The manju skin is thin, yet you can still appreciate how fine and delicate the dough is.
The white bean paste is rich but gently sweet, with a mellow and delicious flavor.
This is perfect with tea. I would love to enjoy it with a hot cup of strong, slightly bitter Japanese tea.
The frog shape also gives it plenty of visual charm, and the individually wrapped manju are easy to hand out, making them excellent souvenirs for a group.
Considering that they can be stored at room temperature, the quality of the flavor is more than satisfying.
A box of 20 was also available for ¥1,080. Either size works out at roughly ¥50 per sweet.
Gama Taisho really was memorable in both appearance and taste.
Thank you for the meal!
For more recommended souvenirs from Ibaraki Prefecture, please see the page below.
Gama Taisho Product Info, Expiration Date, Manufacturer
| Product Name | Gama Taisho |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer / Seller | Tsukuba Bussan Co., Ltd. |
| Address | 65 Numata, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan |
| Expiration Date | Approximately 2 months from purchase |
| Place of Purchase | Michi-no-Eki Goka |
| Price | ¥648 |
