CASTELLA SPONGE CAKE “FUKUSAYA”
“FUKUSAYA” PRESENTS THE CROSS CULTURAL SPONGE CAKE AT THE DAWN OF THE NEW ERA IN JAPAN.
What is CASTELLA ? What is GOSAN-YAKI?
CASTELLA
Castella simply means Castilla (the historical region in Spain) in Portuguese.
The Portuguese stayed in Nagasaki in Japan introduced the idea of the sponge cake from Castilla to Japanese around 1500s – 1600s.
The ingredients were EGGS + SUGAR + WHEAT FLOUR + STARCH SYRUP.
The idea and the ingredients were arranged by Japanese style and called “CASTELLA.”
In Nagasaki style, the Sugar used were both the granulated and the white refined . So, you can see the granulated sugar remains in the bottom part of Castella.
GOSAN-YAKI
GOSAN-YAKI is the premium version of the Castella.
It made by more sugar and eggs but less wheat flour so that is more heavy and rich in taste. The limited number of GOSAN-YAKI is available because it is made by the skilled persons in specific way in each process. So, the price is quite expensive than the regular one, of course.
In special occasions, it is popular to be selected as a special gift or souvenirs among Japanese people.
Features
☆ The oldest Castella shop to be established in 1624 at Nagasaki in Japan.
☆ The most loved Castella shop by people in NAGASAKI.
☆ The process of the mixing is by the people`s hand work not by machines.
☆ Compared to other brands, very rich in taste and moisten.
☆ Please be careful of the expiration date. (around one week)
☆ Please do not leave it in high temperature place.
☆ “GOSAN-YAKI” is also available.
Price Range
Very Small (one cube) : around JPY 300~
Small (0.6) : around JPY 1200~
Regular (1) : around JPY 2000~
Premium “GOSAN-YAKI” (1) : around JPY 3000~
My Recommendation
☆”FUKUSAYA CUBE”
💡 Very good for souvenirs.
The size is 50 x 57 x 64 mm.
“FUKUSAYA” changes the box design four times a year by seasons.
The below is the Autumn Version:
💡 When you open the box, the box itself would be the paper dish.
Also, the fold-able plastic fork is inside the box.
Where you can find in Japan & How to get there
NAGASAKI – origin
TOKYO / OSAKA / KYOTO / HOKKAIDO / HIROSHIMA / FUKUOKA / OKINAWA area and more
💡 Most of the shops outside NAGASAKI are located in the Department Stores.
For the latest information and the shop address,
please refer the “FUKUSAYA”`s website.
http://www.fukusaya.co.jp/global/en/index.html
THE SHOP SIGN
References:
“FUKUSAYA”`s website.
http://www.fukusaya.co.jp/global/en/index.html
All pictures are taken by mie.
All are as of 2017.
From my point of view 🙂
I asked my foreign friends who visited Japan to try Castella very many times. So far, all of them liked the taste so brought back to their countries as one of the souvenirs. I believe Castella is the real cross cultural sponge cake ever in this world.
Most of Japanese people prefer “FUKUSAYA” which is the oledest Castella shop in Japan. I think “FUKUSAYA” keeps following the basic way. So if you want to try the classic type of Castella which is balanced and moisten, “FUKUSAYA” would be the best choice.
I have also tried “GOSAN-YAKI.” It was the once in the life time taste. Because it was too heavy and too rich for me, the regular Castella was very much fine, I thought.
If you have a chance to visit Nagasaki, you see more Castella brand shops. It may be very fun to visit other brand shops and try the differences .
Not in “FUKUSAYA” because it keeps the classic style, but you can visit other brand shops to find Castella with the green tea flavor, with the Cheese flavor and the chocolate flavor so on.
At last, don`t forget to peel of the paper on the bottom of Castella before eating!
Enjoy!!
Thank you for reading my report. 🙂
