Uiro

A sugary steamed rice cake, uiro is a beloved Japanese dessert with rather complex flavours. Considering its chewy texture and a mildly sweet aftertaste, you need to sample this a few times in order to get used to it. I can vouch for the fact that you will fall in love with uiro, first slowly, and then all at once. While it is essentially the last course of a meal for most travellers, the locals love consuming this treat with cups of green tea. Owing to its historical significance, the many recipes for uiro have been passed down through generations in Japanese households. Similar to mochi sweets (rice cakes); this treat is available in a multitude of authentic flavours like matcha green tea, adzuki bean, and chestnut. And then, the usual variants of strawberry and cherry can also be bought and relished.

Made out of uruchi rice, which is non-glutinous in nature, this is one healthy dessert and you therefore shouldn’t feel guilty after consuming multiple helpings of the same. Moreover, the most intriguing aspect of this dish is its beautiful presentation in the form of neat squares and rectangles; a brilliant illustration of how the Japanese are obsessed with perfection.
Where to buy: traditional confectionery shops all across the country sell the best uiro, and so do dedicated dessert counters at major supermarkets.