Matsunaga Shiruko Sand Biscuits Chestnut

Shiruko Sand Chestnut is the autumn edition, built on waguri paste — chestnut from Japanese-grown trees.

Waguri is Castanea crenata, native to these islands and eaten here since the Jomon period, larger and starchier than the European chestnut with a restrained, clean sweetness.

It is also difficult enough to peel by hand that the word on a package functions as a mark of quality rather than a simple ingredient listing.

Pairing it with azuki is less obvious than it sounds, because the two are closer to each other than most fillings would be — both are starchy, both are gently sweet, both are worked into pastes the same way.

What Matsunaga Seika has done is use chestnut to lift the azuki rather than contrast with it, so the filling reads as one flavour with more depth rather than two competing.

The company’s own phrase is that the chestnut spreads to fill the mouth.

Chestnut season in Japan runs from September, and every confectioner releases something for it — Mont Blanc in patisseries, kuri kinton in osechi boxes, roasted chestnuts sold from carts.

Matsunaga Seika has been making Shiruko Sand in Komaki, Aichi, since 1966, and the seasonal flavours rotate with the calendar. 55 g to a bag. A limited-period edition.

About this item
Item Name : Shiruko Sando Chestnut
Brand : Matsunaga Seika
Item Form : Biscuit
Allergens: Milk, wheat, soybean
Number of Items : 55g (Pack of 1)