We’ve got all the details on where to find them, and how to eat them.
There are many, many supermarket chains in Japan, but one of the most popular is Gyomu Super. Colloquially known as “Gyo-su”, this chain is designed for gyomu, or business use, so it’s stocked with bargain bulk buys that are commonly purchased by restaurant owners, but it’s just as popular with regular customers and households looking to save money.
▼ Gyomu Super
Right now, the chain is in the spotlight on social media, thanks to a surprise product that not a lot of people know about: milk carton desserts. Gyomu Super actually sells around 10 varieties of these milk carton desserts, which pack around a kilo (2.2 pounds) of dessert into every carton. It’s a clever and compact way to serve up a big dessert, and now that a new Mitsuimo Cake has been added to the range for autumn, it was the perfect time for us to head out and try it.
Mitsuimo (literally “honey potato”) refers to sweet potatoes that become especially sweet and syrupy when cooked, with a moist and sticky texture. At first glance, you might think this carton contains Mitsuimo milk, if such a thing were to exist, but a closer look reveals this really is a cake, with the word “ケーキ” (“cake”) clearly printed on the packaging.
A cake in a carton sounds like a difficult thing to eat, but thankfully the pack comes with instructions on how to release the dessert from its packaging.
▼ First, open the entire thing up top so you can see into the carton…
▼…then tip it on its side and jiggle the dessert out onto a plate.
▼ Milk carton…
▼ …dessert!
▼ The cake slid out with a whoosh, surprising us with its presence.
▼ It was so golden and gleaming that it kind of looked like a gold bar.
Grabbing a knife, it slid through the dessert like butter, so we could easily cut a piece off and present it on a plate of its own.
After slicing, the dessert really began to resemble a cake, and when we tasted it, it had a rich sweetness and a sticky, dense texture, while being soft and jiggly at the same time. It was far more delicious than we thought it would be, with a texture like purin (Japanese pudding) but the taste of sweet potato.
Although it was tasty, the sweetness was quite strong, so it would be impossible for us to finish the whole carton as is. Thankfully, the pack comes with a few alternative ideas, like French Toast and Ice Cream Sandwiches, which both looked fantastic, but we decided to try their suggestion to use it as a spread.
Simply toast a thick slice of bread until golden brown, then spread on a layer of cream cheese and some of the Mitsuimo Cake.
▼ Since the Mitsuimo Cake is soft, it can be spread on toast like jam or butter.
This was a taste sensation. The rich sweetness of the sweet potato complemented the fresh tang of cream cheese to create a fantastic dessert-like treat. Great for breakfast or as a snack, this is something we could happily eat every day.
▼ Who knew carton cake on toast could be a thing?
The Mitsuimo Cake costs 537 yen (US$3.39), and with 7–8 servings in a pack, this was great value for money. The fact that it’s made domestically at a factory Japan is another nice selling point.
▼ Once you’ve been initiated into the world of milk carton cakes, you’ll be keen to explore other options, like this Peach Jelly.
▼ Two quick and easy ways to serve up sweets at a gathering.
The only problem with the carton desserts is finding them. We found ours after visiting three different Gyomu Super branches, as they were so popular they’d already sold out. So if you do come across them, don’t hesitate to pick one up, so you too can fall in love with the wonders of Japan’s milk carton cakes.
Images © SoraNews24
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!