Minamoto Kitchoan
44 Piccadilly, W1J ODS
Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus
Phone: 0207 437 3135
Expect to Pay: £2 per sweet
In the heart of Piccadilly Circus, a small Japanese confectionary has been serving up delicate sweets made from azuki beans, kidney beans, glutinous rice, potatoes, and cherry blossoms. Minamoto Kitchoan has been in business for around 10 years, and with branches in New York, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, California, and Tokyo, they are doing their fair share of trade in Japanese sweets.
The small shop has a couple of benches where you can sit and admire the dozens of different wagashi, or Japanese sweets. Each one is beautifully made and that is reflected in the price. The small treats will cost you around two pounds but if you are a fan of Japanese dessert, it will be worth every cent. Popular choices include Tsuya, a mini pancake with sweet red bean paste, Shocoramochi, a chocolate dessert wrapped in rice cake, and seasonal favourite Sakuradaifku, a rice cake with white bean paste mixed with cherry blossoms. If you sit in, they will serve you a cup of green tea to go with your dessert.
For those of you who are not convinced about eating dessert made from beans and potatoes, this may not be the place for you. But if you are a fan of Japanese desserts or if you are just looking for something a little bit different, Minamoto won't disappoint.
By Abby Chau
