Enjoy earth-conscious treats and whimsical animal doughnuts at Japan’s “nature doughnut” shop

Floresta isn’t as well known as the big chain stores in Japan like Mister Donut or Krispy Kreme, but their “nature doughnuts” deserve all the attention they can get. As a company, Floresta strives to provide customers with healthy, yet satisfying snacks, using organic local ingredients with no additives or preservatives. They are also careful to reduce waste that can have a negative impact on the environment. You would think a healthy doughnut might taste like cardboard, but Floresta manages to serve up delicious rings of environmentally friendly goodness. They also make animal doughnuts that will make you want to buy out the store.

As you might expect from such an earth and health-conscious shop, Floresta offers a lot of interesting doughnut flavors on their standard menu.

▼ Clockwise from the left:  Earl Grey, Café Latte, Maccha Green Tea, Cranberry Cacao, Salted Caramel, Nuts and Fruits/Milky

The menu at Floresta is constantly changing depending on the season. For fall, they are offering apple and raisin Stollen, roasted green tea with mashed sweet potatoes and chestnut, sweet potato maple, kabocha (Japanese pumpkin), and Mont Blanc doughnuts.

But the most memorable menu item is definitely the “doubutsu doughnut.” Simply translated as “animal doughnut,” these little critters will keep smiling right back at you until you devour their icing smile.

Floresta even asks for submissions from their patrons in their “Wouldn’t it be nice if we had this doughnut” Contest. Here are the winning submissions and when they will be available in stores.

▼ October 8: Delicious Doughnut Panda, October 22: Appmon (Apple and cinnamon) Doughnut, November 5: Mitarashi Doughnut Balls

Here are a few more submissions that won the “Full of dreams” Award:

With prices ranging from 180 to 250 yen (US$1.84 to $2.57), Floresta’s “nature doughnuts” are a guilt-free way to indulge your sweet tooth. Check out their store locations throughout Japan and even in South Korea.

Images: Floresta