I don’t know if it’s the new de-stressing night shower gel that I’m using that’s triggering some whacky dreams in the middle of the night or my own mental incapacity for stable reality - either way, I’m dreaming really weird stuff (pause for greater emphasis). My dreams are always somewhat quirky, relaxing and enjoyable. They’re wonderfully fantastical dreams too, a la Spirited Away. I even have a breathtakingly white/blue-ish (uhuh, I dream in colour) companion dragon that allows me to merge bodies with it when the need arrives to protect myself from or attack evil relatives (don’t get me started…these dreams are insane).
I love Spirited Away. I felt that was a spectacular work of art - definitely a spark of genius - and something I wouldn’t ever forget. It’s craziness, seemingly off-balance reality coincided with my own and sort of made sense even though it really didn’t. One awesome film that still inspires me till today. Anyway, on this subject, if you’ve seen the film, you might recall the little Soot Sprites squealing excitedly for star-like candy during their lunch break. I was passing through Kyoto Foodie’s blog and whilst reading Wagashi: Daimonji Senbei and Kompeito 京都 大文字 送り火 せんべい こんぺいとう I came across pictures of konpeito (or kompeito) and kohaku sweets. This post is wonderfully informative with great pictures and I had such great fun staring at them. Thing was, I’d seen these sweets in the film and I really wanted to have them myself.
Konpeito are little star-like rock candy that look like they’re about to combust. They come in many different pastel-like colours and sometimes flavours (Hidemi does some like sakura and green tea so forth with a very traditional packaging and a more polished look than these guys); and are made by spraying sugar water or the flavoured sugar syrup in a giant spinning tub called a dora. A little search on the net shows that Japanese confection artisans, however, use small pieces of ground rice kernels in a spinning caldron and layer sugar syrup over the kernels daily. The sugar crystallizes and grows day by day, 1 mm in diameter a day, depending on atmospheric conditions. The artisans have to be watchful for nearly a week to ensure that these sweets grow perfectly!
It doesn’t seem very complex in terms of ingredients or flavours but these little candy are the works of a very patient process and are so adorable to look at. If you’re a fan of rock candy, they’re also tiny enough to bring with you in your handbag or place them on your desk at work for a quick sugar fix. Apparently, konpeito is also served at certain outdoor tea ceremonies - so why not substitute regular boring-looking sugar cubes for konpeito? The thought of it really tickles me and I’m overwhelmed with the cuteness of these sweets! Interestingly, konpeito isn’t Japanese per se as this was a candy brought into Edo by a Portuguese missionary. It’s really wonderful how in more ways than one, cuisines are so much defined and affected by cuisines from other parts of the world.
So how did I come about finding these adorable sugar stars? Funny thing was I really was headed to the convenience store for some mints, a couple of biscuits and maybe a drink just to keep me awake at the shop. But when I saw these guys, I couldn’t help giggling like a foolish child and running to the till to pay for them. I nearly tripped over my own two feet in my excitement. This really reminds me of jelly beans and how we would get so excited over the colours and flavours of the jelly beans as a kid, screaming at the top of our voices the flavours we were about to shotgun so no one else could have it. There’s something so simple and yet really fun and dreamy about them.
Pictured here are konpeito from Kasugai. Cute packaging and lightweight at 66gm - I had no trouble bringing it around with me in my handbag and then sneaking it out for a few shakes of konpeito on the train ride home, much to the envy of the not so candy-savvy commuters. Enveloped now in my candy happiness with thoughts only of purple bears and fluffy clouds, I reckon I’ll have a good night’s sleep or some other crazy but positively sweet dream.
They look like something i used to eat when i was younger. I’m lovin’ the photos of the candies.
They’re so cute! I’ll bet I could find these in certain parts of our fair city. The kiddo would appreciate them. I might eat a few too
Bobby: they remind me of handmade rock candy with pictures of fruit in the middle but without the funky patterns and fruit flavours..i’m gradually starting to fall in love with ‘em. honestly, i’ve even got ‘em on my bed beside my laptop…it’s bad.
RecipeGirl: they certainly are! I hope you do or you could always get them from Hidemi on Amazon haha. The extents to which one would go for sweets. These are truly adorable and a lot of fun to eat!
xx
Oh goodness, I was just about to comment on your sweet childhood memories when I realized that you buying the candy was a recent experience, lol
It’s been ages since I’ve bought candy. I wonder if I can make you jealous by the candies we have here? (Prob. not.)
I hope all your dreams don’t begin with your parents turning into pigs!
They’re too cute to eat! Uhm… maybe not.
Singapore was great, and I really appreciate your Marmalade Pantry tip-off. Also really liked Sistina (I think it was) in Chip Bee. Actually, I’m plannig to set up camp there.
You have a nice blog, Diva.
manggy: i’ve never had konpeito as a kid! that’s the honest truth. candy buying when i was a child consisted of pick & mix, jelly beans, candy sticks, lollies, gobbstoppers, NERDS, these funny grape/orange throat candy, chocolate wafers, chocolate covered peanuts, M&Ms, skittles, butterscotch, Rabbit sweets, rock candy, bubblegum (there’s probably more that i can’t recall) BUT never konpeito…it sure made me feel like a child though! i swear they are awesome
Dee: glad to hear you enjoyed yourself here! Oh yes Sistina is pretty good too
when would you be next around?? the weather is pretty bad at this moment.
Thip: cheers my friend! thanks for stopping by and hope to see you around more. i’ll stop by your blog in a bit
xx
Love the yellow bear on the package - cute!! She looks really blissed out from the sugar rush.
Those are adorable little candies. They remind me of the Everlasting Gobstopper from Willie Wonka!
Thanks for the comment on my sweet potato casserole!
stop back by my blog anytime!
Cute litte confeitos! In fact too cute to eat:)
Oh how cute! I wish I had a bag of my own.
You just rock, miss gorgalicious!
I want a companion dragon!
I want to merge bodies!
I want to attack evil relatives!
I want Confeito Sugar Candy!
Before today, I didn’t even know I wanted these things!
I would have giggled and acted like a child, too. These are so cute! And I love the characters on the package.
they look cute, like gummie bears ! good fun to nibble at.
I am going to have to look for some konpeito.
is there any recipes on kompeito?
i wanted to make em…. or i could go to ebay and buy a bag, cuz i cant get em here….
Ah, I never knew that the star like objects that the soot spirits were gathering were actual candies!
I had very Miyazaki-esque dreams after watching Princess Mononoke
The husband’s and my top favourite - My Neighbour Totoro. Must watch!
These candies are so fun! I would love to use them as a garnish!
Great find. I’ll look for them the next time I make a Hi-Chew run.