Japanese tourists who visit Nagasaki and come home without at least one bar of Castella cake are certainly heading for the cold shoulder from family and friends. It is one of the most cherished, and requested, souvenirs of a Nagasaki trip, and it isn't even Japanese!
Castella (or Kasutera pronounced by Japanese) is a rich, heavy yellow sponge cake, a lot like an English pound cake, introduced to Japan by Portugese merchants in the 16th century. It is thought to have originated in Spain, and the name is derived from the Portugese for 'bread from Castile'. It would have been good food to carry on board ship, as it keeps quite well, necessary on long voyages. It became a fashionable food among the wealthy, due mainly to the cost of sugar, during the Edo period. It is still expensive, but much more affordable for todays affluent middle classes.
The most cherished Castella is sold by an old Nagasaki shop called Fukusaya, founded in 1624. The cake has been adapted to suit Japanese tastes, and the rich, sweet offering from Fukusaya is well known for its crystalline sugar base, which separates out during baking.
It is sold in bars of various sizes, wrapped in the instantly recognizable yellow packaging, and on Sunday afternoons you can spot tourists carrying the tell-tale yellow carry bags towards Nagasaki station from the very busy, very crowded bakery.
RK
Hello!
Castella is one of my most favorite sweets!
There are many kinds of Castellas,
chocolate flavor,green tea flavor,
coffee flavor,strawberry flavor,cheese flavor and so on.
But I think a plain Castella is the most delicious!
With a piece of Castella and hot japanese tea
(or hot coffee),I'll be happy!
Posted by: Oka | December 08, 2005 at 04:26 PM
Thanks Oka, for your comment. Yes, I think the plain Castella, especially from Fukusaya, is the best. But aren't the other ones, such as chocolate, called something else? Isn't the chocolate one called 'Hollander cake'?
By the way, I removed your email address to keep it private. Is that ok? Otherwise it would be published with this comment for anyone to email you.
Posted by: Ray Kinnane | December 08, 2005 at 09:29 PM
I lived in Japan for two years and among the other experiences I was lucky enough to get to know about Castella and more than that enjoy it in several occasions....
Now I live in Malta and am trying to find out the way to get Castella to this beautiful Island...
Can anyone give me an idea re. this matter?
Thanks a lot in advance.
Nadia.
Posted by: Nadia | January 28, 2007 at 04:11 AM
Hello! great idea of color of this siyte!
Posted by: Vilyammi | August 09, 2007 at 01:24 AM
Hi nadia,
If you like to import Kyushu or Nagasaki made castella I can help to export as I am also exporting green tea and other products.
Cheers
Posted by: Moritz | December 19, 2007 at 05:01 PM
Thank you for your kind reply...
I almost forgot about my request for Castella...
And usually I receive one from Nagasaki at Christmas time from my friend..So I am waiting..
However I would like to know more about the possibility of having Castella in Malta, where I leave and work in the catering industry.
So please give me as many information as you can in order to start thinking about it seriously: time for delivery, costing, minimum amount to purchase etc..
Thank you!
Hope to hear from you soon.
Regards.
Nadia.
Posted by: Nadia | December 22, 2007 at 10:53 PM
Hi..., Just stopping by to search about Castella Cake.
Theresia.
Posted by: Theresia | February 03, 2010 at 07:50 PM
i just heard about this cake from watching the anime "Samurai Champloo" and noted how the shop in the anime was obviously rendered to look just like Fukusaya (Episode 24, if you're interested). I visited Japan in 2002 and missed out on this but I will definitely hit it up when I go back again.
Posted by: Sinamon | April 29, 2010 at 09:38 AM