Recommended Fukuoka Souvenir: Traditional Nagasaki Castella from Castella Honke Fukusaya

Fukusaya's castella is still baked entirely by hand by skilled artisans.
A single artisan is responsible for the entire process, from cracking the eggs by hand to whipping, mixing, and baking.
At Castella Honke Fukusaya Nagasaki Honten and at factories across Japan, this traditional method continues to be followed, offering an unchanging flavor that many people love.

The artisans have a strong commitment to the eggs, applying the most suitable techniques according to the season and the condition of the egg whites.
In the Meiji era (1868-1912), a special variety called Tokusei Gozanyaki Castella was created.
Created using highly sophisticated techniques that vary the ratio of eggs for each type of castella, this supreme castella is still enjoyed today.

Fukusaya's castella is characterized by its uniquely fluffy yet moist texture and deep sweetness.
This is thanks to the long-standing use of a traditional separated-egg method in which the egg whites and yolks are separated and carefully whipped by hand.
It offers a traditional flavor that cannot be achieved by Western-style methods that mix the batter by machine, and truly showcases the artisans' skills.

Fukusaya's castella is distinguished by the crunchy texture of coarse sugar crystals that remain on the bottom.
This is created by artisans who, during mixing, carefully wear down the edges of the sugar crystals so they blend into the batter while leaving some crystals intact.
The portion that dissolves turns into a rich sweetness, while the remaining sugar crystals add a pleasantly crunchy bite.
Because the degree to which the sugar melts varies with the season and temperature, the artisans pay meticulous attention and continue to preserve the traditional flavor by working each batch by hand.

This is the flagship product, made with carefully selected ingredients and baked one sheet at a time by artisans.
It is characterized by a moist mouthfeel, gentle sweetness, and the texture of the coarse sugar scattered across the bottom.
Its simple yet profound flavor is part of its charm.

This popular series features single-serving pieces of castella packed in cute little boxes.
It retains the same fluffy texture and refined sweetness, while offering a convenient size that is perfect for gifts.
The colorful presentation is also eye-catching.

Tokusei Gozanyaki Castella is Fukusaya's top-tier castella, made luxuriously with plenty of egg yolks and sugar for a dense, richly flavored cake.
Its moist crumb and mellow, full-bodied sweetness make it an ideal gift for special occasions.
Another highlight is Handmade Monaka, a traditional Japanese sweet in which you fill fragrant monaka wafers with sweet bean paste yourself.
The crisp wafers and moderately sweet chunky red bean paste harmonize beautifully.
You can enjoy the fresh taste that comes from assembling them just before eating.

A region-exclusive Fukusaya Cube featuring a bat motif, considered a symbol of good fortune, is particularly popular.
This design was adopted as a trademark by the twelfth-generation head of the company, and in China bats have long been regarded as auspicious creatures that bring good fortune.
It is also connected to Nagasaki's history of close ties with China through the sugar trade, and the nourishing castella is said to have been likened to "furo-senka," an immortal confection.
For a memento of your trip or a souvenir, be sure to pick up a Fukusaya Cube adorned with a bat that is said to bring good luck.