Aichi Prefecture

I’m a great fan of desserts that do precisely what their name suggests. You’ve got a Tiramisu, which is a literal ‘pick me up’ thanks to the coffee within. Then there’s an Eton mess, a cream dish that looks dropped on the floor and haphazardly scooped back into a dish. I’ve never eaten spotted dick, but I don’t fancy risking it! But above all, there is the Japanese sweet daifuku (大福), because I have the ‘great luck’ to see in my neighborhood the arrival of the newest branch of Benzaiten. Daifuku mochi is a Japanese confection consisting of small round mochi (glutinous rice cake) stuffed with a sweet filling. Frequently this filling is anko red bean paste, which, in my opinion at least, is best described as an ‘acquired taste.’ However, this is not the case at Benzaiten. Named after one of the seven Japanese gods of fortune, the goddess of knowledge and music, Benzaiten instead stuffs their daifuku with the most delicious, sumptuous seasonal fruit. The fruit is delivered daily directly from the market, ensuring an unrivaled freshness. Depending on the time of year, you can choose from a wide array of fantastic fruity fillings, from classics such as…