Castella (JDT Recommends)

Castella, Japanese sponge cake, is a specialty and popular souvenir of Nagasaki. Originally from Portugal, the snack was brought into Japan during the 16th century by Portugal merchants, referred to as Pão de Castela (bread from Castile). The cake has a light mustard yellow color and a layer of dark brown on top, with the cake being around 27 cms in length. The spongy cake is made from flour, sugar, eggs, and starch syrup and has a fluffy, light texture. The moist spongecake has a nice sweet aroma and goes perfect with a cup of tea or coffee. There are now many variations of castella using various ingredients. Some popular choices include green tea, brown sugar, and honey, and it isn't unusual to find mini, bite-sized castella at matsuri's (called baby castella). There's also a Meiji era variant of castella called Siberia, castella cake filled with sweet bean jelly, which has recently become popular in recent years thanks to the works of Hayao Miyazaki's film The Wind Rises. If you have a sweet tooth that constantly craves the best desserts, come join us on our Southern Japan Tours or Cherry Blossom Tour Packages available March & April to explore Nagasaki and try this incredible dessert.