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Have you ever wondered what the equivalent of the phrase, “as American as apple pie,” would be in other countries? For other nations, what widely loved dessert produces that same mixture of traditional comfort and nostalgia?

For Japan, you could make a strong case for anko, or sweet red beans, which show up in all manner of snacks and sweets. As we’ve talked about before, anko makes everything better, and it’s about to do the same for the Golden Arches, as McDonald’s Japan is about to start selling anko pies.

If you’ve only eaten Western-style desserts, the concept of sweet beans may take a little getting used to. Trust us when we say they’re awesome, delivering sweetness that avoids being cloying and has just a touch of saltiness. Plus, while it’s still not health food by any means, anko tends to contain far less fat than a similar-sized serving of chocolate, custard, or most other gooey, delicious pie fillings.

Like so many other snacks in Japan, McDonald’s 124-yen (US$1.10) anko pies will only be available for a limited time. They’ll only be sticking around until “late November,” according to vaguely phrased reports. That still gives you a pretty long window in which to try the treats, though, since they’re scheduled to go on sale October 1.

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October 1 at 5 a.m., specifically, after which McDonald’s website says the anko pies will be available “every day from 5 a.m. until 4:59 a.m. the following day.” We’re not sure why the chain feels the need to be so specific, or apparently to cut us off for a moment each morning. Sure, it may be just for a minute, but once you learn just how good anko tastes, 60 seconds can be a long time to have to wait for your fix.

Hmmm, I wonder if McDonald’s will add these things to their breakfast delivery menu…

Source: Narinari
Images: McDonald’s Japan