Shirokuma
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| Type | Kakigōri |
|---|---|
| Course | Dessert |
| Place of origin | Japan |
| Region or state | Kagoshima prefecture |
| Main ingredients | Ice, condensed milk |
 Cookbook: Shirokuma  Media: Shirokuma | |
Shirokuma (白熊 or しろくま) is a type of kakigōri, a Japanese dessert made from shaved ice flavored with condensed milk, small colorful mochi, fruits, and sweet bean paste (usually Azuki bean).
Description
Shirokuma has been popular in Kagoshima since the middle of the Edo period and is well-known to many Japanese. Condensed milk, fruits, and sweet bean paste are served over shaved ice. It is eaten in cafés, but also in some department stores, such as Yamakataya (山形屋) or Mujaki.
Etymology
Shirokuma literally means "white bear", and indicates "polar bear" in Japanese. There are some views about the origin of the name.
In one account, there was a cotton shop in Kagoshima city. The shop started to sell kakigōri as its side-business. The kakigōri was flavored with condensed milk. When the owner was thinking of a name for the kakigōri, he noticed the picture of a polar bear was printed on the labels of the condensed milk's can.
Another account is that Mujaki, a coffee shop in Kagoshima City, started to sell the kakigōri, put milk-syrup, sanshoku-kanten (colorful agar), yōkan (soft azuki-bean jelly), sweet-beans and fruits in a pattern that resembled a polar bear when seen from overhead, so it was named Shirokuma.
Availability
Supermarkets in southern Kyushu, especially in Kagoshima City, Kagoshima, and mom-and-pop candy stores sell shirokuma as a popular product. It is sold in different types.
Shirokuma are often eaten at Kagoshima Fairs which are held in other prefectures. Shirokuma in cups are sold at convenience stores all over Japan.
References
- 天文館むじゃき(Japanese)
- セイカ食品株式会社：南国白くま(Japanese)
- http://www.yamakataya.co.jp/ 鹿児島 山形屋 (Japanese)
External links
- 天文館むじゃき(Japanese)
- かごしま遊楽館(Japanese)
- セイカ食品株式会社：南国白くま(Japanese)
- 鹿児島 山形屋 (Japanese)
- Rocket NEWS 24 - You can eat a polar bear in Kagoshima(English)
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