Kamakuragoro Hangetsu Matcha – 鎌倉五郎 半月 抹茶風味

I don’t often get the chance to venture down south of chilly Hokkaido but luckily I have a jet-setting group of acquaintances who are constantly hopping across the sea to Japan’s main island of Honshuu, and usually don’t return empty-handed. It was one such friend who recently brought me some Hangetsu senbei (crackers), a popular souvenir item produced by Kamakura-based confectioner Kamakuragoro.

Hangetsu means ‘half moon’, which, as you can see, is reflected in the semicircular shape of this sweet cracker. Japanese folklore has it that a rabbit lives on the moon, hence the charming little bunny illustrations and the design in relief on the biscuit which also depicts a rabbit (sadly mine got broken in transit).

The senbei, which is matcha-flavoured – although azuki and black sesame versions are also available – has a rich, warm aroma of cinnamon infused with herbal green tea. Despite several days having passed between receiving this gift  and eating it, when I opened the wrapper it was still fresh and incredibly crisp. The dark golden colour, hint of burnt caramel flavour, and brittle texture reminds me strongly of the Pompadour fan wafers that you often find atop ice cream sundaes, although I’d venture to say that Hangetsu is even lighter and crisper.

While the senbei has a robust matcha flavour, the taste of the fluffy cream filling is much more watered-down and has a delicate, light sweetness like a pinch of powdered sugar. Some green tea notes are present, but more reminiscent of a milky matcha latte than an unadulterated cup of the real stuff.

Hangetsu being a traditional-style confection, for me the center was unexpected, as I felt that Kamakuragoro could have opted for a higher concentration of matcha in the filling, which would have produced a more recognisable earthy green tea hue, instead of the pale pastel colour you see here – I’m certain that the cracker itself would be sufficiently sweet to support the grassy flavour. However, the creamy paste is spread thinly and the airiness compliments the light crispness of the crackers nicely, making for a delicious snack overall, even if it is a little on the sugary side.

I was slightly disappointed to discover that a fair amount of artificial ingredients go into making these, but if that’s what it takes to preserve the excellent degree of freshness then I’m willing to overlook it and would definitely eat Hangetsu again.

7/10

Kamakuragoro Hangetsu (Matcha)  150kcal/pc