[Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture] If You Want to Enjoy Castella (sponge cake)! 3 Popular Picks

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Echigoya Taredo is a castella (Japanese sponge cake) specialty shop located in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City, about a 1-minute walk east from the Imadegawa-Sembon intersection.

This long-loved Kyoto shop catches the eye with its dignified appearance. Their castella, popular both as a souvenir and as a gift, is said to be soft, fluffy, and delicious.

Photograph:tonyhoney

Among eggs, flour, sugar, and starch syrup, they use only high quality ingredients. Their "kasuteira (castella sponge cake)," made with no additives at all, is popular for its light melt-in-your-mouth texture.

It does not come with coarse sugar on the bottom, and has a gentle flavor that is not too sweet. People also like the rich taste of the eggs.

Photograph:いけずな京男

"Kyomatsuba" is a fragrant baked sweet said to be inspired by broken pine needles. It uses the same ingredients as "Kasutera".

Sweet and toasty, it has a texture like a firm cookie. It also keeps well, so you can enjoy it for a long time.

Photograph:meiiiii27

Sangen-an is a castella specialty shop in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, about a 5-minute walk from Aburanokoji Tanbabashi Stop.

It is a small stand selling directly from the factory. Along with its standard Kyo Castella (Kyoto-style castella), made with a focus on quality, it offers a wide range of sweets based on castella.

Photograph:muchos

The castella you break apart by hand, "Cube Castella Oman." It is a treat that lets you enjoy the rich flavor of kasutera (castella sponge cake).

It is said to have a moist, pleasantly chewy texture, with a rich egg flavor, balanced sweetness, and a satisfying finish. Another nice point is the wide range of flavors, including "matcha (green tea)" and "chocolate."

Photograph:こけかつサンド

The "roll kasutera (Japanese sponge cake)" is a dish made by rolling kasutera like a Swiss roll. Its dense texture and moist bite are well liked.

The "Tanba kuromame (sweet black soybeans) Roll Kasutera" in the photo uses sweet black soybeans as a nice accent. It is said to have a light sweetness and an enjoyable contrast in texture.

Photograph:500(チンクエチェント)

Taiwan Castella Koubaihaku Shinkyogoku Ten is a specialty shop for Taiwan castella, located in the Shinkyogoku Shopping Street about a 3-minute walk from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line.

Inside the bright shop, you will find several kinds of castella lined up. Taiwan castella is known for its fine, airy texture. Many people seem to buy it to eat while walking around or as a souvenir.

Photograph:d3bd05

The "Plain" is well liked for its light sweetness and texture that seems to melt in your mouth.

Unlike moist Japanese kasutera (sponge cake), it is soft when freshly baked, with an airy texture that seems to dissolve in your mouth, and as time passes, it changes into a rich, moist taste.

Photograph:yoshi_3

"Matcha" is a castella cake made with dough kneaded with matcha (powdered green tea) from Kyoto and filled with sweet azuki (red beans).

The aroma of matcha rises through the nose, while the gentle sweetness of the batter and the texture of the azuki add a nice accent. It is said to be so good that you can keep eating it bite after bite.