Yamamotoya Black Sesame Daifuku

My Experience

This was my first time trying Yamamotoya, a specialised wagashi brand, and they are genuinely good. Especially when you consider it is a frozen product transported all the way to the UK.

The black sesame is fully encrusted around the mochi and adds a completely different experience. You get that crunch alongside the authentic chewy rice texture, mixing the roasted, slightly bitter seed flavour with the generous chunky red bean (tsubu-an). It is really well made and the elements complement each other quite well. It doesn't allow the sweetness to become too dominating and the mochi never feels boring.

Sure, this is probably like 100 yen in a Japanese konbini, but for £1.79 in the UK, it is a steal for authentic Japanese-made quality.

The Value: If you look at high-end places like Minamoto Kitchoan in London, they charge £3.50 for a tiny 61g piece. Unless you have money to burn, I can't imagine that being three times better than this 100g pack.

The Reality: There aren't many places in London where you can easily order authentic Japanese-made daifuku. Most "mochi" sold here are actually Taiwanese candy brands (like Royal Family) which have a gummy texture. Finding proper rice cakes like this without going to a specialist importer is rare.

For an actual tasty snack without the luxury tax, this is a solid win.