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m →‎History: Corrected romanized spelling of title, based on pronunciation given in Japanese Wikipedia.
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{{Short description|Type of wagashi}}
{{For|the song|Yokan (song)}}
{{For|the song|Dir En Grey}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox prepared food
{{Infobox prepared food
| name = Yōkan
| name = ''Yōkan''
| image = [[File:Youkan mizuyoukan.jpg|300px]]
| image = Youkan mizuyoukan.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption =
| caption =
| alternate_name =
| alternate_name =
| country = [[China]]
| country = [[Japan]]
| region =
| region =
| creator =
| creator =
| course =
| course =
| type = [[Wagashi]]
| type = ''[[Wagashi]]''
| served =
| served =
| main_ingredient = [[Agar]], [[sugar]], [[red bean paste]] or white kidney bean paste
| main_ingredient = [[Agar]], [[sugar]], [[red bean paste]] or white kidney bean paste
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| other =
| other =
}}
}}
[[Image:GreenTeaYokan.jpg|thumb|Cubes of green tea yōkan]]
[[Image:GreenTeaYokan.jpg|thumb|Cubes of green tea ''yōkan'']]
⚫
{{nihongo|'''''Yōkan'''''|{{linktext|羊羹}}}} is a [[Wagashi|wagashi (Japanese confection)]] made of [[red bean paste]], [[agar]], and [[sugar]]. It is usually sold in a block form, and eaten in slices. There are two main types: ''neri yōkan'' and ''mizu yōkan''. "Mizu" means "water", and indicates that it is made with more water than usual. ''Mizu yōkan'' is usually chilled and eaten in the summer, however in [[Fukui Prefecture |Fukui]] prefecture it is customarily eaten in winter.<ref>{{cite web

|url = https://shun-gate.com/en/power/power_89/
⚫
{{nihongo|'''Yōkan'''|羊羹}} is a thick, jellied dessert made of [[red bean paste]], [[agar]], and [[sugar]]. It is usually sold in a block form, and eaten in slices. There are two main types: ''neri yōkan'' and ''mizu yōkan''. "Mizu" means "water", and indicates that it is made with more water than usual. ''Mizu yōkan'' is often chilled and eaten in summer.
|title = Yokan—A Sweet that Evolved while Being Nurtured by Japan’s Culture and Climate
|author = Sakiko Fujimura}}</ref>


==Types==
==Types==
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==History==
==History==
During the [[Kamakura period]] (1185-1333), Japanese Buddhist monks who studied in the [[Song Dynasty]] brought the culture of the tea ceremony to Japan, and the custom of eating confections with tea began in Japan.
Originally a [[Chinese cuisine|Chinese]] [[Gelatin dessert|gelatin confection]] or snack made from the [[gelatin]] derived from boiling sheep; the term is literally “sheep [[geng (dish)|geng]]” ([[wikt:羊|羊]] sheep + [[wikt:羹|羹]] thick soup).
The monks also introduced {{nihongo3|[[dim sum]]|点心|tenshin}}, a light meal, and the history book {{nihongo3||[[:ja:庭訓往来|庭訓往来]]|Teikin ōrai}} mentions {{nihongo3||饂飩|[[udon]]}}, {{nihongo3||饅頭|[[manjū]]}}, and {{nihongo3||羊羹|yōkan}} as {{nihongo3||点心|tenshin}}. However, the manjū and yōkan brought to Japan by the monks were not sweets as we know them today, but were prepared in a completely different way.<ref name="ndl1">{{cite web|url=https://www.ndl.go.jp/kaleido/entry/25/1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222142945/https://www.ndl.go.jp/kaleido/entry/25/1.html|script-title=ja:駆け足でたどる和菓子の歴史|language=ja|publisher=[[National Diet Library]]|date=|archive-date=22 February 2024|access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref> Yōkan was a soup containing sheep meat, but since there was no custom of eating animal meat in Japan, the Japanese replaced the meat with a paste made of kneaded barley or azuki bean flour. Later, the soup was removed and replaced with a pasty confection made of barley or azuki bean flour. Finally, around 1800, during the [[Edo period]] (1603-1868), 500 years later, yōkan became what it is today. The invention of {{nihongo3|[[agar]]|寒天|kanten}} in the 1600s was essential to the birth of modern yokan. Later, the kanten invented in Japan was introduced to Manchuria, Korea and Taiwan.<ref name="jwa1">{{cite web|url=https://www.wagashi.or.jp/monogatari/shiru/rekishi/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222142803/https://www.wagashi.or.jp/monogatari/shiru/rekishi/|script-title=ja:その1和菓子の歴史|language=ja|publisher= Japan Wagashi Association|date=|archive-date=22 February 2024|access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kaiundo.co.jp/blog/blog/%E7%BE%8A%E7%BE%B9%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%B4%E5%8F%B2%E3%81%AB%E3%81%A4%E3%81%84%E3%81%A6.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223062136/https://www.kaiundo.co.jp/blog/blog/%E7%BE%8A%E7%BE%B9%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%B4%E5%8F%B2%E3%81%AB%E3%81%A4%E3%81%84%E3%81%A6.php|script-title=ja:羊羹の歴史について|language=ja|publisher=Kaiundo|date=28 January 2019|archive-date=23 February 2024|access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%AF%92%E5%A4%A9-49309|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223062210/https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%AF%92%E5%A4%A9-49309|script-title=ja:寒天|language=ja|publisher=Digitalio, Inc.|date=8 April 2018|archive-date=23 February 2024|access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref>
It was introduced to Japan by [[Zen]] [[Buddhists]] in the [[Kamakura period|Kamakura]] and [[Muromachi period|Muromachi]] periods, around 1191. As Buddhism forbids killing, they replaced the animal gelatin with wheat flour and azuki beans. Agar came into use after it was discovered around 1658, in Japan. This variation became the basis of modern yōkan.<ref>[http://www.wagashi.or.jp/monogatari/shiru/ 'Yōkan', Japan Wagashi Association, 2011 (translated from Japanese)]</ref>
One of the most popular [[Japan]]ese sweets, it evolved further during the [[Edo period]] as sugar became more available. It can be stored for long periods of time without refrigeration unless opened, and is a staple gift item.


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Gelatin dessert]]
* [[Gelatin dessert]]
* [[Uiro|Uirō]]
* ''[[Uirō]]''
* [[Karukan]]
* ''[[Karukan]]''


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{Japanese food and drink}}

{{portal bar|Food}}
{{portal bar|Food}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Yokan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yokan}}
[[Category:Jams and jellies]]
[[Category:Wagashi]]
[[Category:Wagashi]]
[[Category:Jams and jellies]]
[[Category:Buddhist cuisine]]


{{confection-stub}}
{{confection-stub}}

Revision as of 08:22, 14 April 2024

For the song, see Dir En Grey.
Yōkan
TypeWagashi
Place of originJapan
Main ingredientsAgar, sugar, red bean paste or white kidney bean paste
Cubes of green tea yōkan

Yōkan (羊羹) is a wagashi (Japanese confection) made of red bean paste, agar, and sugar. It is usually sold in a block form, and eaten in slices. There are two main types: neri yōkan and mizu yōkan. "Mizu" means "water", and indicates that it is made with more water than usual. Mizu yōkan is usually chilled and eaten in the summer, however in Fukui prefecture it is customarily eaten in winter.[1]

Types

Although yōkan found in Japan and abroad is typically made with red bean paste, yōkan made from white kidney bean paste (しろあん, 白餡, shiro an) is also relatively common. This type of yōkan is milky and translucent with a much milder flavour than that made of red bean paste. As such, it can be effectively flavoured and coloured by using green tea powder.

Yōkan may also contain chopped chestnuts,[2] persimmons, whole sweetened azuki beans, figs, and sweet potato (imo yōkan), among other additions. Sugar can also be replaced with honey, dark brown sugar, or molasses to alter the taste of the yōkan produced. There is also shio yōkan, which uses small amounts of salt.

History

During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), Japanese Buddhist monks who studied in the Song Dynasty brought the culture of the tea ceremony to Japan, and the custom of eating confections with tea began in Japan. The monks also introduced tenshin (点心, dim sum), a light meal, and the history book Teikin ōrai (庭訓往来) mentions udon (饂飩), manjū (饅頭), and yōkan (羊羹) as tenshin (点心). However, the manjū and yōkan brought to Japan by the monks were not sweets as we know them today, but were prepared in a completely different way.[3] Yōkan was a soup containing sheep meat, but since there was no custom of eating animal meat in Japan, the Japanese replaced the meat with a paste made of kneaded barley or azuki bean flour. Later, the soup was removed and replaced with a pasty confection made of barley or azuki bean flour. Finally, around 1800, during the Edo period (1603-1868), 500 years later, yōkan became what it is today. The invention of kanten (寒天, agar) in the 1600s was essential to the birth of modern yokan. Later, the kanten invented in Japan was introduced to Manchuria, Korea and Taiwan.[4][5][6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Sakiko Fujimura. "Yokan—A Sweet that Evolved while Being Nurtured by Japan's Culture and Climate".
  2. ^ 栗子羊羹 at 搜搜问问 wenwen.soso.com in Chinese
  3. ^ 駆け足でたどる和菓子の歴史 (in Japanese). National Diet Library. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  4. ^ その1和菓子の歴史 (in Japanese). Japan Wagashi Association. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  5. ^ 羊羹の歴史について (in Japanese). Kaiundo. 28 January 2019. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  6. ^ 寒天 (in Japanese). Digitalio, Inc. 8 April 2018. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
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