🍱 Kofuku Mame

The term "Kofukumame" translates to "Happiness Beans" in English. It represents a traditional Shiga Prefecture snack made with soybeans. In the agricultural setting, soybeans were cultivated in the ridges of paddy fields, and wheat was grown in the back fields for self-consumption. Currently, wheat production is increasing in Shiga Prefecture, and many recipes use wheat flour. Sometimes rice flour is used, giving the snack a chewy and delicious texture. Shiga Prefecture has a history of agricultural development centered around rice cultivation, earning it the nickname "Rice Granary of Kinki" due to the abundance and quality of rice produced. Consequently, dishes made with rice, such as snacks like mochi and dango, have been popular. "Kofukumame" is one such snack. In times when sweet treats were scarce, "Kofukumame," made by mixing roasted soybeans and rice flour with sugar and water, then baking the mixture, were enjoyed as snacks during breaks from agricultural work. Other snacks from that era included mashed sweet potatoes, sweetened rice dumplings, green pea dumplings, and soup dumplings, all of which were hearty and satisfying treats.