Yokan

Yokan

Japanese Name

ようかん

youkan

Description

Yokan is a traditional Japanese sweet made from red bean paste.
It is solidified with agar instead of gelatin.
Yokan has a smooth, firm texture.
It is usually served in small rectangular pieces.
The taste is sweet but not too strong.
There are different types, such as neri-yokan and mizu-yokan.
It is often eaten with green tea.
Yokan is popular as a gift and a tea-time dessert.

History

Yokan originally came from China.
In ancient times, it was made from sheep meat soup.
After Buddhism spread to Japan, meat was replaced with beans.
This change created the sweet version of yokan.
During the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, it became popular.
In the Edo period, sugar became common and improved its taste.
Yokan spread among both samurai and common people.
Today, it is one of Japan’s most famous traditional sweets.

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