Kinako and Kuromitsu Kakigori Recipe

Kakigori (かき氷) is Japanese shaved ice, usually with flavored syrup on top like strawberry and Matcha syrups.  It is very popular during the hot and humid summer in Japan, and there are a lot of pop-up Kakigori stores appearing in the season.  And that’s been a favorite way for everyone to cool off during those unbearable days and months for many years there.

Kinako and Kuromitsu Kakigori is a more traditional and authentic Japanese style Kakigori you can get in Japan, but may not be readily available outside Japan. At the same time, it is very simple to make at home. Kinako is soybean flour which has a distinctive nutty flavor of roasted soy beans rather similar to peanuts. Kuromitsu is a black sugar (or dark brown sugar) syrup used in many Japanese desserts. It has a rich and deep smokey flavor, and it is delicious. The flavor combination of Kinako and Kuromitsu is classic for Japanese sweets, and you should try it if you have never had it before. We made Kuromitsu syrup using molasses which is pretty close to Kuromitsu flavor, and easily found at any local store in the US.

You can get shaved ice here in the States, too, usually as a snow cone; however, Kakigori is very different from that.  Snow cones often use crushed ice or ice shaved in thicker pieces.  In some places you can now find Hawaiian shaved ice, which is pretty close to Kakigori. Japanese shaved ice is soft and fluffy, and melts in your mouth like newly fallen snow.  It doesn’t have much crunchy texture at all.  The hardest part to make this dessert is finding a Kakigori machine.  If you are lucky to find it at a Japanese store or online, get one! You won’t regret it. Other than that, Kakigori is a pretty simple affair, ice and syrup of your choice. Try this fun and cool treat, and Kinako and Kuromitsu Kakigori is sure to please your family and friends in hot days!