Rakugan

Rakugan are traditional Japanese sweets prepared in many different colors and shapes reflecting seasonal, holiday, or regional themes. They are made by pressing sugar, soybean flour, and various powders in traditional wooden molds, known as kashigata. It can be said that rakugan is not just a sweet, but an art form in itself. It is often consumed at tea ceremonies and festivities such as Christmas. The flavor of rakugan is that of pure sugar, since it is similar to regular sugar cubes used for tea in the West. Rakugan is extremely popular in Japan, so it can easily be found in many stores or souvenir shops. Kanazawa region in Japan is quite famous for its rakugan confectionery, as well as the Tokushima region, famous for the production of high-quality Wasanbon sugar.