Japan's Seasons in Snacks - Limited-Edition Flavors for Each Season!
Like many parts of the world, Japan loves its limited-time flavors that come around with the changing of seasons. Warm, cozy flavors in the fall, sweet flavors in the winter, and more give foodies something to look forward to every year. However, Japan’s seasonal treats are as unique as they are internationally acclaimed, so let’s take a look at what limited-time flavors you can look out for each season in Japan!
Spring
Throughout spring, Japan focuses on two distinct flavor groups: traditional Japanese flavors, and flavors that evoke or complement the soft pink atmosphere of sakura trees. When it comes to savory foods, ume (also known as plum) can be found across different chips and other snacks, taking on a sharp, salty and sour flavor that pairs especially well with seaweed. Sweets, however, are a more central focus, with sakura flavored goods popping up in stores across the country; this flavor unique to Japan and often described as a subtle, aromatic floral flavor while keeping with a pastel pink color wherever it’s added. Strawberry snack production is also ramped up around the springtime, also because of the soft pink being associated with cherry blossom season. These latter two flavors can most easily be found in snacks such as KitKats, mochi, lattes, and more. Matcha flavored treats also appear more frequently in the spring, with special selections of rich and creamy matcha desserts making their way to store shelves.
Summer
Japan’s summer days are known both domestically and abroad as being brutally hot and humid, especially after the country’s rainy season in June and July. Because of this brutal heat, snack manufacturers prioritize flavors and treats that combat the heat and help you feel refreshed, or at the very least help you create iconic summer memories. Citrus is a big player in this, namely yuzu (Japan’s domestic, orange-and-lemon like citrus fruit) being found more commonly in gummies, chips, and drinks, and lemon, but specifically the combination of lemon and salt together. One of the most refreshing combinations on hot summer days, this is also one of the most readily available in summer, found in drinks (cold and frozen!), chips, candy, you name it. Melon flavor is also especially common during the summer in ice cream, mostly cantaloupe but occasionally watermelon as well, as is ramune flavored treats, which resemble soda.
Fall
With the changing of the leaves in the fall and the return of colder weather, flavors take a more earthy, rich, and warm turn. When we think of autumnal treats, we may think of those that are common across North America; such as pumpkin and pumpkin spice, hazelnut, and more. While the flavors are similar in Japan, they are also vastly different: pumpkin is used both abroad and in Japan for autumn flavors, but have two very different flavor profiles as Japan uses its domestic squash variety (kabocha), leaving a more subtle and less-sweet flavor in snacks than its stronger and more cinnamony Western counterpart. Likewise, while the West often showcases nutty and cinnamon flavors come fall, Japan instead features a variety of snacks with a distinct chestnut flavor, which is creamy with a soft, nutty and almost caramel-like flavor most commonly seen in mont blancs and other desserts. These, however, pale in comparison to Japan’s sweet potato flavor (also known as yaki-imo), which makes a grand entrance in the fall and features a one-of-a-kind rich, earthy, baked flavor that’s vastly different from sweet potato flavors abroad. Eaten as a baked sweet potato itself in the fall and winter sold out of trucks, the same flavor is applied to sweets, ice creams, pastries, and occasionally, chips, and is widely considered the definitive Japanese autumn flavor.
Winter
Colder weather means more warming flavors are needed, but even greater than the need for warmth is the need for celebration, with Christmas and New Years both having a heavy impact on the limited-edition flavors released in Japan around this time. Different varieties of chocolate usually hit Japanese store shelves around this time, with rich milk chocolate and sweet white chocolates often being at the forefront as limited-edition flavor varieties for popular snack brands. Strawberry makes a comeback in the winter as well, but as a sweeter, stronger variety (known as amaou) than which is seen in the spring. Hot drinks, particularly hot cocoa in the sweet department and soups such as corn soup, crab soup, miso, and more hit not just stores, but vending machines as well, for commuters to keep warm and fill up as they travel during the cold winter months. While not exactly snacks, the holiday season also sees traditions such as fried chicken, sweet cakes, and mochi varieties spring up in store, depending on the timing.
As unique as Japan’s variety of snacks itself, the seasonal flavors that pop up across the country add even more definition to the Japanese experience, in ways that both encapsulate the country’s history while also embracing its more modern, eccentric tastes as well. These flavors are also just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Japan’s limited-edition seasonal flavors, with region-exclusive flavors playing a huge role as well, making it a true culinary journey for those who want to experience a full calendar year of Japan’s memorable seasons through taste!
