Yogul: A Yogurt-like Nostalgic Dagashi Sweet

Dagashi (駄菓子) is the generic name for cheap and relatively small Japanese snacks and candies, whose price ranges from 10 yen to about 100 yen. 

The genre has a long history, and its origin dates back to the Edo period, over 300 years ago.

At the time, such snacks and sweets were made mainly with millet or starch syrup and enjoyed among the general public.

While Fugashi is a famous Dagashi from the Edo period, the ones representing the 1900s include Umaibo, Morinaga Ramune, and this Yogul.

Yogul (ヨーグル)

Yogul (ヨーグル) is a yogurt-like Dagashi confection that comes in a small polyethylene container.

An Osaka-based confectionery maker named Sanyo Foods first created it, and today, several companies, including Daiken and Ito Confectionery, produce and sell it.

Sanyo Foods’ signature product is named Morocco Fruit Yogul, while this one is Orange Yogul Queen from Daiken.

Both are cheap, priced at 20 yen, and mainly marketed toward children.

Features

Unlike regular yogurt, the Dagashi Yogul doesn’t use either fermented milk or dairy products.

Instead, the mouse uses shortening and sugar/granulated sugar, flavored with a yogurt flavoring.

The resulting Yogurt-like treat is light and airy, like fresh cream, and this one has a hint of orange flavor. 

Ingredients 

The Orange Yogul from Daiken consists of shortening, sugar, corn starch, dextrose, acidifier, flavoring, sweetener (stevia), soy emulsifier, and antioxidant (vitamin E).