(Marie de Shitateta Mashumaro Keeki | Marshmallow Cake crafted by Marie)
General Description
We've been looking at sweet potato desserts and snacks for a bit. Today let's try a different fall flavour - chestnut! Well, in this case, it's Mont Blanc flavour. Around this time of year, you'll see cafes advertising Mont Blanc desserts. This is a "marshmallow cake" from Morinaga. Morinaga is one of Japan's major confectionary companies and "Marie" is one of the biscuit series.
I think I've only had a Mont Blanc once before, so I honestly don't remember what it tastes like. However, I liked other chestnut desserts I've had, so I'm excited to try it!
[Cultural Note] Seasonal Flavours
Perhaps because Japan is an island country that shares no borders with other countries, the foods and flavours that are “in” change with the seasons.
While you can find some seasonal flavours all year round at certain stores, you’ll see cafés and restaurants advertising specialty drinks and desserts and stores selling unique snacks depending on the time of year.
Some notable seasonal flavours are:
- Strawberries (mid/late winter)
- Cherry Blossom (early spring)
- Maccha (spring)
- Mint (early summer)
- Pineapple, Lychee, Lemon, Watermelon (summer)
- Sweet potato (fall) Chestnut (fall)
[For more cultural notes, check this page.]
Review
- Price
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189 JPY (8 small palm-sized cookies) - Taste
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It's interesting. A bit different than what I was expecting. You can taste the chestnut a bit, but it also has a coffee taste to it too. As you can see in the picture, it's pretty small, so the filling doesn't stand out too much. I have to admit, I don't really like "raw" marshmallows, which is why I'm glad there isn't a strong marshmallow taste. It does add a little sweetness to it though.
The biscuit is hard to pick out. It's hearty but not sweet. The chocolate is only a very thin layer over the cookie, just enough to taste.
I would like a bit more of the "filling," but I still think all the flavours have an okay balance. It's not that sweet, but instead has an "adult" taste. - Texture
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The biscuit is soft and crumbly with thin layers, similar to a Wagon Wheel or Viva Puff. The marshmallow seems to be mixed with a filling, because it is a little chewy and sponge-like, but isn't like a marshmallow just stuffed into a cookie. The soft biscuit and slight chewiness of the filling make this cookie so nice to bite into.
- Smell
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There's no strong smell.
- Overall
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They're tiny and I could eat them all in one sitting. It's not super special and I don't think the flavour stands out among other snacks, but there's something so satisfying about eating them. It's not that sweet at all, so I can imagine eating this at any time in the day. I think it'd also pair well with a hot drink. - Would I try again?
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It wouldn't be something that I buy often (not that I can since it's a seasonal snack), but I would get it as a treat for myself.
