The Best 9 Must-Buy Souvenirs in Aichi

People in Aichi prefecture (or often referred as people in Nagoya) are known to favor strong flavor. You can discover original local cuisine in Nagoya and get them for gifts or souvenirs to take them back home with you. You may wonder how you could find the best one when there are so many different kinds of products. This article will introduce the most popular top 9 must buy products when you visit Aichi.

1. Kaeru Manju

photo by flowerplushir   /   embedded from Instagram

Kaeru means a frog in Japanese, and the face of this cake is an image of this company’s logo. Manju is a steamed bum with sweet bean paste fillings, but this Kaeru Manju is actually a baked cake with a sweet bean paste filling.

A cute frog face-like Kaeru Manju is one of the most famous pastries from Nagoya. The delicious sweet bean paste is filled in a frog shaped baked cake, and this cute and tasty cake is everyone’s favorite.

Depending on the season, you may be able to get special seasonal flavor fillings, such as a sweet potato filling or a cherry blossom filling. It is certain that the cute frog face on the package will also give you a smile.

2. Tefuukinn-no-shirabe

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If you are looking for a delicious pie from Aichi, Tefuukinn-no-shirabe is the one. It is a pie that a creamy sweet bean paste filling is wrapped in a soft pie rich in butter. This flavorful pie is popular among all the generations.

The pie, that could be both Japanese and western style pastry, has been known in Aichi for long time. It is the perfect accompaniment to coffee, tea or Japanese tea, and the design of the package is beautiful as well. This pie will be a nice gift from Aichi.

3. Yukari

photo by yu_1128   /   embedded from Instagram

Yukari, made by Bankaku Souhonnpo Co., Ltd, is a famous rice cracker with shrimp. You can enjoy the unique fragrance and tasty flavor of shrimps, and this crispy rice cracker is one of the most popular products from Nagoya.

The company also pays close attention to select ingredients for crackers, and that adds a luxury to products. The well-baked crispy crackers also reduce your stress of breaking them while you travel.

One of the reasons to recommend Yukari is a wide variety of size of crackers, packages, as well as flavors besides shrimp available. When it is difficult to choose one, you should get a pack of mixed flavors.

4. Miso

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People in Nagoya prefer the darker brownish red miso, called akamiso, and they like to eat varieties of foods with miso. The “Tsukete Miso, Kakete Miso”, means dipping miso and putting miso, is a miso sauce that makes it possible to try the “Nagoya taste” easily with any foods.

This sweet miso sauce is rich in flavor and is often said that this is the must have item at every household in Aichi. The tube-type packaging makes it easy and convenient to use, and the sauce goes well with varieties of dishes, such as rice and deep fried dishes. You can share an unique flavor of Nagoya at home when you have “Tsukete Miso, Kakete Miso”.

5. Shirukosando

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Shirukosando is a three layer biscuit with a sweet bean paste between two biscuits. People in Aichi love this biscuit for the unchanged taste for more than 50 years. The combination of sweetness and slight amount of salt on a biscuit is perfect. Once you start eating, it is impossible to stop.

A bite size of biscuits and the reasonable price are another reason to recommend. This is a perfect souvenir from Aichi especially if you plan to share them with many people. Enjoy Shirukosando dipping into milk or eating with ice cream.

6. Jagarico Tebasaki flavor

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Jagarico, one of popular products of Calbee, Inc., is a potato stick snack with a tasty flavor of tebasaki, deep fried spicy chicken wing, that is one of specialties from Nagoya.

Many different flavors of Jagarico are sold through out Japan, but the tebasaki flavor is only available in Aichi. Children like the spicy taste and it is also a good accompaniment to alcohol.

The region limited flavor of Jagarico is very special in Japan, and everyone is happy to get them as a souvenir from Nagoya. The golden carps, the symbol of Nagoya, are printed on the package, and that will remind you of the trip to Nagoya.

7. Kishimen and Miso Nikomi Udon

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Kishimen is flat wheat noodles and Miso Nikomi Udo is udon, thick wheat flour noodles, stewed in a red miso soup. Both of them are a local dish of Nagoya. This gift box contains both kishimen and Miso Nikomi Udo, and you can easily cook the same dish you have tried at a restaurant in Nagoya.

You can enjoy both light flavor of kishimen as well as strong flavor of Miso Nikomi Udo since two types of noodles are in one box. Which one would be your favorite?

8. Hitsumabusi-no-sato Chazuke

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Hitsumabusi is a dish of chopped grilled eel on rice and is a local dish of Nagoya. The eel itself is quite expensive, but “Hitsumabusi-no-sato Chazuke” is available in a reasonable price.

This package is to make chazuke, a simple Japanese dish made by pouring green tea or hot water over cooked rice. The seasoned chopped grilled eels are packed inside, and you can simply put them over cooked rice and pour hot water. It is very simple and easy to make. You can have an authentic Nagoya taste in just a few minutes.

9. Moriguchizuke

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Moriguchizuke is getting popular as a gift from Aichi recently. The Moriguchi radish is usually narrower and longer compared to a regular radish and often used for pickles. The moriguchizuke is a pickled moriguchi radish in sake lees. They are made by experienced craftsmen with the utmost care and have rich taste and crispy texture.

You can find chopped moriguchizuke that may be easier to eat. You can share a memory of your trip by offering local foods, like this moriguchizuke. It is a nice souvenir especially for someone who likes pickles.

Let’s get special souvenirs from Aichi!

There are so many kinds of well known products in Aichi. From a simple snack to a side dish to accompany a meal, the most popular products are introduced in this article. These are the must buy products from Aichi and would please anyone who receives them as a souvenir. If you miss an opportunity to try these products while you are in Aichi, it is also a good idea to get them for yourself. Please enjoy the taste of Nagoya that you can only experience in Aichi!