TOKYO FOOD TOURS | LEARN ABOUT THE FRUITS SANDWICH
Whether it’s PB&J or ham and cheese, you’ve definitely had a sandwich before. But have you had a fruits sandwich before? If you’re booking a food tour with us, you’ll have the chance to indulge in one of Japan’s favorite sweets - the fruits sando as it’s known here. There’s a lot of different kinds of fruit sandwiches, but your guide will help you pick out the best flavor.
The origin of the fruits sandwich are not exactly clear, and its thought to have been invented in either cafes in Kyoto during the 1920s or by Senbikiya, Japan’s first fruits parlor shop in Tokyo. Some other interesting theories are that it was invented for geisha workers to eat fruits without getting their hands sticky and dirty. It’s also thought to have been invented as a cheap way to enjoy fruits and cake, two luxury items during the early-mid 19th century in Japan because it uses small slices of fruits and replicates the taste of cakes by being sandwiches by two pieces of bread. There are many interesting theories, but all we know is that Japan invented these wonderful sweet and savory snacks.
A fruits sandwich is literally a sandwich with whipped cream and your choice of fruits inside. Soft white bread with the ears cut off are used to sandwich the whip cream that’s not too sweet (so it doesn’t mask the flavor of the fruit) and sliced fruits. They taste a bit like cake, but not too overwhelming. The softness of the bread and the not-too-sweet whip cream mixed with Japan’s fresh fruits makes this nice, wholesome snack. Because they are so popular, they’re sold just about anywhere you go. Cafe’s and fruit parlors will have high quality fruits sandwiches that can be priced anywhere from 1000-2000 Yen! (10-20 USD). If you’re looking for something a bit cheaper and quick, any convenience stores will sell them (7-eleven, Lawson, Family Mart) which are literally on every block in Japan.
Some common fruits sandwiches are strawberry, kiwi, mango or banana. Not many juicy fruits like citruses and berries are used because the liquid from the fruit might make the bread soggy, but rather more solid fruits are a popular choice. The most common one is probably the strawberry fruits sandwich. Because it’s so common, it’s sometimes referred to as just ichigo sando, or strawberry sandwich.
Making these at home can be easy, but deciding on the right kind of bread and making sure that the whip cream isn’t too sweet would become the game changer.
By joining us on a Tokyo food tour, you can try some delicious fruits sandwiches!
Tokyo Food Tours: Winter in Japan means strawberry season. Many shops will have delicious strawberry sandwiches as their winter specialty!