Amanatto: Sweet Boiled Bean Wagashi Confection

One of the best-known Japanese delicacies, “natto (納豆)” is a fermented soybean with a slimy consistency and unpleasant smell to it.

Because of that, many people don’t like or can’t eat it, even if they were born and raised in Japan.

You may not like natto either, so for those, here I will introduce another type of natto called “Amanatto (甘納豆)”.

Do you know the food?

Amanatto (甘納豆)

Amanatto Beans

If you hear the name, Amanatto, for the first time, you might wonder if it is a delicacy relating to natto fermented soybeans.

But don’t worry, Amanatto is a food completely different from natto. Actually, it is a type of wagashi or traditional Japanese confection, with over 150 years of history.

Specifically, Amanatto is made of beans that have been simmered in sugar syrup, coated with sugar powder, and dried.

Ingredients

Amanatto Beans

A variety of beans can be used to make Amanatto, which include Azuki red bean, broad bean, kidney bean, peanut, soybean, and Kuromame.

Other than these beans, food materials such as chestnut, lotus seed, and round sweet potato slices can also be the main ingredient of Amanatto.

Because of that, the Japanese treat comes in a variety of colors ranging from glossy black to beautiful green and red.

Where to Buy

Amanatto is a sweet that’s been widely enjoyed in Japan for over a century, so today, it can be bought at most supermarkets and convenience stores around the country.

How to Enjoy

Japanese people usually eat Amanatto as it is, typically with green tea, but the bean confection can also be used in other ways like the below.

With Bread (Cake)

Bread with Amanatto BeansImage: cookpad.com

Amanatto is sweet, besides has nearly the same size as raisins. Hence, some people like to make bread or cake using the wagashi in place of raisins.

With Plain Yogurt

Plain Yogurt with Amanatto BeansImage: cookpad.com

Amanatto is not only sweet but also healthful, so some people like to eat plain yogurt with the beans mixed in, without using sugar.

(Reference Page: Wikipedia 甘納豆 )

Tomo

Hi, I'm Tomo, a Japanese blogger living in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. For the purpose of enriching your life, I would like to introduce things about Japan on this blog, especially unique Japanese products, cooking recipes, cultures, and facts and trivia.

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