🍡 Tsuki-no-Shizuku (Koshu Grape confectionery)

"Tsuki no Shizuku" is a painstakingly crafted local confection from Yamanashi Prefecture. It features the representative grape variety of the region, the "Koshu grape." Each grape is coated with a layer of white syrup, which is kneaded with sugar, creating a unique and time-consuming delicacy. The confection features a delightful combination of a solidified syrup that offers a sweet and gently crumbly texture. This pairs harmoniously with the distinctive juicy sweetness and tartness of the "Koshu grape," creating an exquisite balance of flavors and textures. The "Koshu grape" is known for having a thick skin that can withstand high-temperature syrup, and its moderate acidity is considered well-suited for this confection. The origin of "Tsuki no Shizuku" dates back to the Edo period. According to one story, at a wagashi (traditional Japanese confectionery) shop in Kofu City, while boiling sugar, a grape nearby fell off. The grape cooled, solidified, and became the creation known as "Tsuki no Shizuku." In the guidebook "Kofu Kaimono Dokimono Guide" published around the end of the Edo period, "Tsuki no Shizuku" was sold at several confectionery stores, and it is also depicted in "Kai Meisho Jukoroku" as "Kyokusei Tsuki no Shizuku," indicating that it was already known as a famous confectionery in Koshu. It has a long history as a famous confectionery of Yamanashi Prefecture and is still very popular.