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Hamamatsu Diary (I): Unagi Pie

Insights

This is the first of a series, leading up to the 2023 WFIMC General Assembly in Hamamatsu, Japan

Care for an Eel cookie, anyone?

Besides the great highlights of Japanese cuisine (sushi, sashimi, tempura, soba, udon, just to name a few) the country also has famous snacks. A LOT of snacks actually, and many of them look or sound rather crazy for westerners. Dried squid anyone? salted jellyfish chips? Your choices are endless. But, seriously, would you ever try a Japanese snack made with eel? 


As WFIMC has reported earlier, Hamamatsu is famous for many iconic Japanese companies like Yamaha, Kawai, Honda, but also for its delicious eels. Caught in nearby Hamana lake, they are considered to be the best in the world. Eel, or Unagi, is a delicacy in Japan and can be eaten in many different ways. You can grill it, smoke it, dry it, fry it, make it into a sushi…the possibilities are endless. But who would have thought of using eel for a snack, let alone a sweet one?

 

 

It begins with the fish: Japanese Eel (unagi)

This is the more famous, grilled variety: Unagi on rice.....

.... and this is how Eel pies are made!

Not so much resemblance with the animal: Unagi Pie.

Shunkado, founded in 1887, is one of Japan´s best „wagashi“ snack producers. But they only became famous in 1961, when they started to make cookies baked with eel powder. Today these Unagi cookies have become known as ‘Unagi Pies’ and are still made by hand in the same way they have been for over half a century. Besides being really tasty, they are also said to be effective in restoring energy, combating summer fatigue, and preserving eyesight! On the box, it even says „A snack for nights“ but we are not quite sure what that means.

By now you will be shaking your head and asking: can this be any good? The short answer is: YES! It is really delicious. Unagi Pie looks a little like eel, but it neither tastes or smells like fish at all. Topped with granulated sugar, the crispy cookies taste and smell like cakes coming out of a bakery oven. They come in pretty boxes and are sold in many places around town. A must try and a perfect gift to take home from Hamamatsu!

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