Monaka is a traditional Japanese sweet. There are various types of monaka, from the common monaka available at supermarkets to monaka sold as gifts at high-end Japanese confectionery stores.
The origin of today's monaka is said to be a snack called "monaka no tsuki," which was sold at a sembei shop in Yoshiwara in the mid-Edo period.
To make monaka skin, glutinous rice flour is mixed with water, kneaded, steamed, stretched thin, cut into a round shape, and baked. The finished
monaka skin is then sprinkled with sugar and is said to have resembled a rice cracker.
At that time, monaka were not filled with red bean paste as they are now.
Later, it is said that the "monaka no tsuki" with red bean paste sandwiched in it was sold and it became the mainstream.
Then, after the Meiji Era, mold technology advanced, and a wide variety of shapes of monaka came to be produced, from the orthodox round and square ones to flower and other patterns and animal shapes.
Nowadays, there are many different ways to enjoy the monaka, and the filling can be chestnut, Gyūhi, rice cake, ice cream, etc.
Source：Morinaga Seika
https://www.morinaga.co.jp/ice/jumbo/history/
This is an even newer way to enjoy monaka – monaka with soup base.
The soup base is contained inside the round monaka skin.
When eating it, you just need to place this monaka in a cup, add an appropriate amount of hot water to dissolve it and eat it as a soup.
They look lovely, isn’t it?
The visuals also have a cute design and coloring that will appeal to women and children.
You can eat it yourself when you are hungry at the office, or it would be a nice gift.
It is available in Japan in large quantities and is valued as a tasty soup.
From now on, this monaka soup may become a mainstream snack.
You've got to try it, it's a very rare texture!
