Buy a Stollen before Christmas in Kyoto, home to many high-end bakeries!

I am sure you are all aware that Kyoto consumes a lot of bread and has many high-level bakeries.
In the midst of all this, there is a sweet bread that you should definitely buy in Kyoto before Christmas.
It is "Stollen"!
The quality of the bread is high, and the quality of the Stollen is also gracious!
Stollen in Kyoto is so hot that before Corona, there was a project called "Stollen Expo" at Tokyu Hands in Shijo, where stollen were gathered.

What is Stollen?

Stollen is a traditional baked good that has been eaten in Germany since ancient times.
In Germany, where it is originally from, it is customary to cut a thin slice every day before Christmas and eat it little by little, and it begins to appear in stores around the same time in Japan.
The buttery dough is filled with dried fruits and nuts.
Another feature of this product is that you can enjoy the change in flavor as it becomes more familiar day by day.

In this issue, we will introduce you to the stollen from four of our recommended stores!

German bread is here! Beccalai Perkeo Alto Heidelberg.

The first Stollen is from Beccalai Perkeo, a German bakery in Okazaki.

Each one is handmade according to a traditional German recipe, from the yeast preparation to the flouring process.
There are also many different kinds of breads, such as twell, kaiser, and bread made with lots of rye.
Many people in Kyoto probably think of this place when they think of German bread! Many of you may say, "If you think of German bread in Kyoto, this is the place to go!

These stollen are very heavy when held in the hand!
When you open the package, you can smell the buttery aroma and it is filled with almonds, orange peel, lemon peel, and raisins!
The first is the "R" in the word "R".
The dough is crispy and rich in texture.
A second brand "Schleife" also offers Stollen, which can be purchased by mail order.
It is a traditional type of dough-nut balance. This is another orthodox product with a good balance of dough and nuts.

The area is close to tourist attractions such as Heian Shrine, Kyoto Zoo, Kyocera Museum of Art, Eikando Hall, and Philosophical Path, so it is a great place for sightseeing.
You can stop inside and enjoy a cafe/lunch.

■ Store Name:Beccalai Perkeo Alto Heidelberg
Address: 1F Kuriyon Okazaki, 54-1 Okazaki Tenno-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Phone number: 075-752-5577

■HP: https://perkeo-kyoto.com

Shinshindo, a long-established bakery established over 100 years ago

Following is another bakery gem. Shinshindo is a long-established bakery established in 1913.
In 1924, the founder became the first Japanese to train in bread in Paris, and was the first to enlighten the world about the deliciousness of hard bread.
The company has also laid the foundation of Kyoto's bread culture by introducing Japan's first pre-sliced, pre-packaged bread.

And Shinshindo has been making Stollen since 1965. It is truly a pioneer of Stollen in Kyoto.
The previous president of the company, Mr. Masahiro Nakamura, first encountered stollen in Germany. The previous president of the company encountered stollen in Germany and brought them back to Japan, where they were not as well known as they are today.
The first time they made this product was when they did not have the skills to make it, so they made it just as they saw it.

The plain "Stollen" is a royal type with four kinds of dried fruits soaked in Grand Marnier, two kinds of nuts, and marzipan lavishly mixed in.
We want to enjoy the change in flavor of the stollen as it matures day by day.

There is also a "Premium Stollen" with even more attention to detail.
The center is filled with a bar of marzipan filling, wrapped in a fruit and nut filled dough and baked to perfection.
The marzipan and the dough are blended together day by day. The marzipan and the dough become more and more familiar with each passing day, giving the cake a unique texture.

There are 12 bakery restaurants, bakery cafes, and bakery stores in Kyoto City, so you can visit tourist attractions
Why don't you stop by when you are in the area and try the traditional taste?

■ Store Name:Shinshindo Sanjo-Kawaramachi Store
Address: The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo 1F, 74 Nakajima-cho, Kawaramachi Higashi-iru, Sanjo-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Phone number: 075-241-1179

■HP: https://www.shinshindo.jp

Grand Vanille, one of Kyoto's leading confectionery stores

Next is the Stollen from the confectionery store Grand Vanille.
Grand Vanille means vanilla seed in French.
The owner, who trained at Shiseido Parlor and other restaurants and has participated in numerous competitions, is a leader in the Kyoto sweets industry.
The presence of the "do's and don'ts".
This year, as in previous years, there will be three types of stollen: "stollen plain," "stollen chocolate," and "stollen rouge.
The company is a member of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

Plain (pictured right) is a cinnamon-scented dough filled with nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and cashews!
The dried fruits are gorgeous, including raisins and oranges, as well as plums, pears, and cherries.
Chocolat (center photo) is a chocolate-flavored dough with dried fruits and chocolate kneaded into it, with a hint of orange.
Rich type.
Rouge (pictured left) is a cinnamon-flavored dough with nuts and red dried fruits kneaded into it and baked to moistness.
The company is a member of the "Japan Association for the Promotion of Science" (JACS).
Both are elegant with a soft, fluffy dough that feels good in the mouth, and have a patisserie-like finish.

■ Store Name: Grand Vanille
■Address: 486, Kagiya-cho, Nijo-sagaru, Manomachi-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City
Phone number: 075-241-7726

■HP: https://www.grainsdevanille.com

Extra: "Hitsuji Donuts," a specialty doughnut store that is healthier for you

Last but not least is the Stollen from Hitsuji Donut, a doughnut specialty store in Marutamachi.

The donuts, which are fluffy and made with natural yeast and sprouted brown rice, are very popular, and since they are open three days a week, the products sell out quickly.
And the reason why it's an extra is because the Stollen is actually very popular, and the 2022 sold out as of 11/12...
I was able to purchase early by asking a friend of mine, but it's really amazing that they sold out before even December!
Popularity.
The Stollen is filled with rum-soaked raisins, walnuts, almonds, and macadamia nuts.
It is covered with wasanbon, which gives it a gentle taste.
It has a mature taste because it is well spiced and the dough is not too sweet.
And this year, red wine-soaked prunes have been added to the mix, making it even more special.
It is no longer available this year, but please try to get it next year or later.

■ Store Name:sheep doughnut
■Address: 355-1, Ootai-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City
Phone number: 075-221-6534

■HP:https://www.facebook.com/people/%E3%81%B2%E3%81%A4%E3%81%98%E3%83%89%E3%83%BC%E3%8
3%8A%E3%83%84/100061038615196/

Why don't you pick up a Stollen while you are out and about, and enjoy a little bit of Stollen every day while chewing on the joy of Christmas that is coming soon?