Monaka

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Monaka (最中) is a Japanese wagashi dessert. It has azuki bean paste between two thin, crisp wafers made from mochi. The wafers come in shapes like squares, triangles, or pretty designs such as cherry blossoms and chrysanthemums. It’s usually enjoyed with tea, and many famous monaka shops can be found in Japan. Fillings can also include sesame seeds, chestnuts, or extra mochi. In the Meiji era, wagashi faced criticism over sugar and hygiene, and some early monaka were marketed as hygienic. Today, some monaka are filled with ice cream, and products like Choco Monaka Jumbo by Morinaga, launched in 1972, combine ice cream with chocolate inside crispy mochi wafers.