 Konpeitō in various colors | |
| Type | Confectionery |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Japan |
| Main ingredients | Sugar, water |
Konpeitō (金平糖, こんぺいとう), also spelledkompeitō, is a type of Japanesesugar candy. It takes the form of a small sphere with a bumpy surface, and comes in a variety of colors and flavors.[1] Introduced from Portugal as a sugar-coated confection with apoppy seed orsesame seed center,konpeitō was eventually transformed into an all-sugar confection with azarame (ザラメ, coarse sugar) center.[2]
The wordkonpeitō comes from thePortuguese wordconfeito ("comfit"), which is a type of sugar candy, and also an umbrella term for sweets in general.[3]
The characters金平糖 (lit. "golden flat sugar") areateji selected mostly for their phonetic value and can also be written金米糖 or金餅糖.
The technique for producing sugar candy was introduced to Japan in the early 16th century by Portuguese traders. The infrastructure and refining technology of sugar had not yet been established in Japan. Askonpeitō uses much sugar, it was rare and expensive. In 1569,Luís Fróis, a Portuguese missionary, presented a glass flask ofkonpeitō toOda Nobunaga in order to obtain the permit for mission work of Christianity.[4][5]
By theMeiji period,konpeitō had already been culturally prescribed as one of the standards of Japanese sweets—the characterSugar Plum Fairy inThe Nutcracker was translated intoKonpeitō no Sei (金平糖の精, "Fairy ofKonpeitō").[6]
Konpeitō is usually 5 to 10 mm (0.20 to 0.39 in) in diameter and is produced by repeatedly coating a sugar syrup over a core consisting of a grain of coarse sugar. Originally, the core was apoppy seed. The process is somewhat similar to thedragée process, except the candies are produced by being ladled with sugar syrup and rotated slowly in a large heatedgong-shaped tub (jap. 銅鑼,dora). Each grain of the core sugar grows over the course of several days with the continued rotating, heating, and application of syrup, becoming a ball covered with tiny bulges. It usually takes 7–13 days to makekonpeitō and they are still crafted by artisans today.[7]
The Japanese Ministry of Defense's Emergency Food Ration tins and theJapan Ground Self-Defense Force's Combat Ration tins both containkonpeito candies, in addition tohardtack bread/biscuits and other food items. While the candies aid in the calorie content necessary for activities, it also helps promote the creation of saliva to make it easier to eat the dry bread. According to the Ministry of Defense's specifications, "Each white emergency ration bag will contain 150g of small dry bread, with 8 whites, 3 reds, 2 yellows, 2 greens as standard, amounting to 15g or more to be put in the bag." It is thought that providing the 'colorful and enjoyable'Konpeito will also reduce the stress that would be experienced at times during a disaster.[8]
Konpeito is often used for celebrations such as marriage and childbirth, gifted in elaborate candy boxes calledbonbonniere (ボンボニエール), from the Frenchbonbonnière, meaningcandy box.[9] It is also given as a gift for prayers at shrines and temples. The practice of giving bonbonniere dates back to the commemoration ceremony of the Meiji Constitution in 1889 and has since been thought to be a symbol of good luck. The Japanese Imperial Family has used theseOnshino Konpeitō as the official "Welcome" gift continuously for over 130 years.[10][11][12]
Even though the Portuguese were expelled from Japan in 1639, pan (bread), konpeito (a type of candy), tempura
This candy was brought to Japan for the first time by a Portuguese missionary, Luis Frois, in 1569. It was among some presents to Nobunaga, the ruler of Japan of that time. The sugar candy was kept in a bottle of glass, and was called "confeitos" in Portuguese.
The Jesuit Father Luis Frois is said to have presented to Oda Nobunaga candles and a glass flask filled with kompeito (a kind of sugar candy); and to Ashikaga Yoshiaki, silk and a glass vessel with a broken handle.
Tokyo: Kunaicho, 2004. Yorokobi no kobako: bonbonieru no ishobi (Celebratory miniature boxes: the decorative beauty of the bonboniere).
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