Back then, Nagasaki prospered as the point of contact for foreign trade.
The fusion of Japanese and other cultures created various foods such as “castella” sponge cake, “champon” noodle soup, and “sara udon” plate noodles.
<”castella” sponge cake>
Castella was based on traditional Portuguese cake.
Today, castella is still made according to the old recipe born in Nagasaki,
its cultural flavor passed down through generations.
The castella sold at Tatsuya Honpo is also baked according to that traditional recipe.
The ingredients are carefully selected, and it is the most popular souvenir item in the store.
The “Castella (With Honey)” is particularly popular.
The “Matcha” flavor has broad appeal for foreign visitors of all ages,
while the “Chocolate” and “Strawberry” are popular with young people.
The shop also sells “Apple,” “Brown Sugar,” and “Yuzu Citrus Honey” varieties.
<Champon, Sara Udon>
Champon and sara udon have similar ingredients: plenty of vegetables, pork, seafood, and noodles. These are all simmered in broth to make champon, while sara udon is made with crunchy fried noodles onto which the other boiled ingredients are poured. Both are must-try dishes for Nagasaki visitors.
You can enjoy these dishes at various restaurants, and you can also easily recreate that authentic flavor at home with champon and sara udon souvenir items.
Try making champon and sara udon with your own favorite ingredients!