Minamoto Kitchoan

Wagashi, sweet pastries artfully shaped like fruit, birds, and flowers, have been traditional tea ceremony snacks in Japan for centuries, but they’re rarely seen in the states. Except for one corner of Midtown, at Minamoto Kitchoan, where wagashi are sold from elegant, spot-lit cases, almost like baubles from a jewelry store.

Enjoyment of most wagashi hinges on one’s opinion of the mochi (rice paste), sweet red-bean paste, and jellied fruits. I’ve found bean paste snacks to be a little bit of an acquired taste, but if you like treats that are sweet and potato-textured you’re in luck. When in doubt, information is meticulously displayed on the oft-impenetrable plastic packaging.

A selection is pictured above. Hakuun-no-hotori ($3 – bottom left) consisted of condensed milk and sweet beans wrapped in crepe. Fukuwatashisenbei ($2 – top left) was similar to a classic vanilla wafer, with crisp, butter cookies encasing smooth crème. The pumpkin-shaped one ($2 – top middle) had a moist thin rice layer wrapped around sweet pumpkin-flavored bean filling.

Wagashi can be bought individually for two or three bucks, although a box of Shunen, pictured at the top of this post, will set you back a steep $27. (The petals are white bean paste wrapped in pink rice cake, while the middle is rice cake and merengue). Staff are unfailingly friendly, helping with hard-to-pronounce names. Seasonal wagashi are available – this cherry blossom dessert on nycnosh looks too pretty to eat.

Minamoto Kitchoan
608 Fifth Avenue New York, NY
Sun-Thu 10am-7:30pm, Fri-Sat 10am-8pm