Interview: The appeal of chestnut sweets and how they came about
Amaguriya Maruroku Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area Store has launched new chestnut sweets. We asked owner Takeda Hironori and store manager Kasahara Nozomi about their appeal and what inspired their development.
The appeal of chestnut sweets is all the chestnuts
What makes chestnut sweets appealing?
Kasahara
The biggest appeal is the generous amount of chestnuts.
You can tell when you try the pound cake: there are chestnuts in every bite. This chunky texture is a strength that only a chestnut specialty shop can offer.
That’s because the roasted chestnuts sold in the store are only those roasted that day.
We don’t reheat and sell them the next day, so any that don’t sell become waste. By making use of these leftovers, we can reduce waste while making sweets packed with plenty of chestnuts.
The story of the pound cake that began with a casual chat
How did “Amaguri Gorogoro Pound Cake” come about?
Takeda
Actually, the wife of the owner of Patisserie La Biche loves chestnuts and had been coming in to buy them as a customer. During a casual chat, she mentioned, “Actually, I run a cake shop”... The conversation quickly led to talk of one collaboration product after another.
Of the several versions they made, we settled on a pound cake that would keep well as a souvenir. At first, it was an ordinary square shape, but I was surprised when they made a chestnut-shaped mold so we could make something special.
They showed us a prototype in December last year (2025), and we were finally able to bring it to everyone starting in March.
Meeting “Haremo Kemo,” a fellow business in the Bikan Historical Area
The cheesecake is a collaboration with “Haremo Kemo.” What inspired it?
Takeda
The product development began after Haremo Kemo approached us. It’s wonderful for us, having only recently opened, to be approached by a shop that has been loved for so long.
It seems Haremo Kemo had already been making chestnut cheesecake, but Maruroku supplies only Okayama Amaguri. I think it has become a special flavor that can only be made here.
“What’s next?” Customers’ expectations grow
How have customers responded since the chestnut sweets went on sale?
Kasahara
When people hear “chestnut sweets,” many become interested.
Since the shop started out selling roasted chestnuts, we naturally have a lot of customers who love chestnuts. So, they’re curious about the chestnut sweets and can’t help buying them… something like that.
Many of our customers are regulars from the neighborhood, and some come in to buy from us almost every week. They were looking forward to the chestnut sweets even before they went on sale, asking, “When will they be ready?”...
Once they finally went on sale, we started getting requests like, “What’s next?” and “How about chestnut rice in the fall?” We can’t respond right away, but we can tell they’re looking forward to what’s coming.
It’s clear that the local community loves the shop.
Kasahara
Thank you. We hope to stay connected with everyone in the community and remain a shop that continues to thrive here for a long time.
From the Writer
The sweets made by Maruroku, a chestnut specialty shop, use plenty of rare Okayama Amaguri and had a gentle deliciousness that brings out the chestnuts’ natural sweetness.
Maruroku is building relationships with local people and businesses through chestnuts. When exploring the Bikan Historical Area, be sure to stop by and try the chestnut sweets that catch your eye.
Amaguriya Maruroku Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area Store details
| Name | Amaguriya Maruroku Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area Store |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-23 Higashimachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 090-8009-4505 |
| Parking | None |
| Hours | 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Wednesday |
| Payment methods |
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| Website | Amaguriya Maruroku Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area Store |
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