Mitsumame

Mitsumame is a famous Japanese summer delicacy made with jelly and black sugar syrup. It is often accompanied by different types of fruit and other refreshing condiments. The base of each mitsumame are see-through jelly cubes made with agar-agar, a thickening agent created out of seaweed. Agar-agar has the same qualities as gelatin; it is added to water or other liquids to solidify them into a mass which can later be cut or shaped into different forms. The jelly for mitsumame is usually made with sweetened water and cut into rectangular shapes in order to resemble ice cubes. Occasionally, plain water can be elevated with other colored liquids or fruit slices. In the simplest form, this refreshing dessert is usually served in bowls, where jelly cubes are placed on the bottom, then topped with a thick dark syrup made from unrefined sugar. Depending on additional toppings and seasonings, mitsumame can come in numerous other varieties. It is most commonly topped with different types of sliced fruit, plump black soybeans, and chewy mochiko balls made with glutinous rice flour. One of the most popular varieties is the cream mitsumame, complemented with a scoop of vanilla or green tea ice cream. Simple and refreshing, mitsumame is one of the most common Japanese summer desserts.