Kuma

If you like to choose destinations to visit based on new foods to try, Wakayama should be near the top of your list, especially if you have a sweet tooth. The impressive number of sweet treats on offer is due to the mild climate (which is conducive to growing a range of fruits all year round) and the abundance of cake shops. 1. Honnoji Manju To start, try a product that someone dreamed up more than 400 years ago. Honnoji Manju is a steamed bun made from a dough of glutinous rice, malted rice, and wheat flour and filled with a red bean paste. Typically, you need to eat Honnoji Manju within two days, but you can find some that last up to two weeks. 2. Hassaku Puro Many people around Wakayama bake “Hassaku Puro” cookies made from Hassaku oranges, which are large and slightly bitter. The crunchy cookies are perfect to accompany coffee or wine. 3. Ichigo Cake Mochi You’ve likely tried mochi already — it’s a cake made from glutinous rice. In Wakayama, a great way to eat mochi is in ichigo cake. This sponge cake features mousse made with locally-grown strawberries wrapped in mochi. 4. Arida Mikan…