Ibarakiss Horodoke Heart: A Strawberry Sweet Filled with Fragrance

Ibaraki Prefecture is easy to reach from Tokyo and offers more than enough to enjoy on a day trip. Children especially delight in the wide-open natural scenery that is difficult to experience in the capital.

For adults like us who love regional specialties, Ibaraki also has several roadside stations that should not be missed. They are wonderfully convenient: give tired children an ice cream, and you can take your time browsing the local products.

This time, I bought a product called “Ibarakiss” at the Makuraga no Sato Koga roadside station in Ibaraki. At first glance, its playful name made it seem like a novelty item, so I decided to give it a try and introduce it here.

Ibaraki is not the first place that comes to mind when I think of strawberries, but the package says that it is made with Ibarakiss strawberry jam produced in the prefecture.

The explanation on the back of the package reveals the story, so let’s take a closer look.

It has been quite a while since my last blog update!

Ibarakiss Horodoke Heart (Sanyo Bussan)

Makuraga no Sato is spacious and carries such a broad variety of famous local sweets that choosing just one was difficult.

This was the product that caught my eye most.

A box of 12 costs ¥540.

The lovely package looks as though it would be especially popular with women and girls.

Its black-and-pink color scheme is paired with an adorable illustration of a princess kissing a strawberry.

According to the package, Ibarakiss is an original Ibaraki strawberry variety created by crossing Hitachi No. 1 with Tochiotome. With the famous Tochiotome as one of its parents, it certainly has an impressive pedigree.

Perhaps the princess on the package reflects the idea that Ibarakiss is their “daughter.”

The best-before date is printed on the back. The box I purchased had about two months remaining.

Heart-shaped chocolate cookies are lined up inside. I was also pleased to see that each one is individually wrapped.

The pink heart is almost too cute!

My impressions of Ibarakiss: the strawberry aroma is incredible

Let’s try one right away!

The first bite has a soft, slightly crumbly texture. Now I understand the name horodoke, which suggests something that gently crumbles and melts away.

Because the chocolate has soaked into the cookie, the dough is pleasantly moist.

It melts beautifully in the mouth, and its mellow yet rich flavor is irresistible.

The strawberry presence is far stronger than its appearance suggests. The juicy strawberry aroma surrounds you and makes each bite feel wonderfully indulgent.

“Kiss” almost sounds too light a word for it—the fragrance truly envelops you.

Eating just one when I was tired felt remarkably comforting.

Both the appearance and flavor are sure to appeal to anyone who loves cute sweets, and every bite makes you want to say, “This is delicious!”

I liked it so much that, in my opinion, it can easily hold its own against baked sweets from a dedicated pastry shop.

I would love to eat it again.

Thank you for the meal!

Ibarakiss Horodoke Heart Product Info, Expiration Date, Manufacturer