Premium Grape Shine Muscat

Among the grapes,​ Shine Muscat ​has been particularly popular in recent years.

It is a large grain, seedless, and with edible skin. It has a high sweetness, low sourness, and no astringency. It is a variety called “Grape Queen” that has the trio of “quality, aroma, and taste.”

This Shine Muscat is one of Japan’s finest grape, created by breeding Akitsu No. 21 (“Steuben” x “Muscat of Alexandria”) and Hakunan (“Kattakurgan” x “Kaiji”). It was officially registered as a new variety from Japan in 2006.

Therefore, the production volume is still small, making it a high-class variety with high scarcity.

The main production areas are Nagano prefecture, Yamanashi prefecture, Okayama prefecture, and Yamagata prefecture.
In Yamagata , it is mainly produced in Yamagata City and Tendo City.

In recent years, Shine Muscat started to be sold at shops in Yamagata Prefecture during the season, but the prices are still a little ou-of-reach.

Even at a local supermarket, the price is 2,500 yen or more per bunch. It is therefore bought as a gift as people are a little reluctant to spend so much for home consumption.

Therefore, I would like to introduce this time the ​ Shine Muscat Daifuku​ andShine Muscat Parfaitusing whole Shine Muscat grapes.

It’s a little more expensive than regular Daifuku and parfait, but you can easily enjoy the deliciousness of Shine Muscat as it is, so if you are interested, why not give it a try.

Founded in 1804, Juichiya is a long-established confectionery

This time I introduce the main branch of Juichiya​ in Nanokamachi, Yamagata
It is a long-established confectionery shop that was founded in 1804.

Inside the shop you can find a variety of sweets, from Western sweets such as cakes and pies to Japanese sweets such as Yamagata’s specialty Fuuki beans, dadacha beans and yokan.

Shine Muscat Daifuku

Recommended products of this season

Among the various sweets, the​ Shine Muscat Daifuku​ corner is located just after entering the south entrance.

It seems to be a popular product of this season.

Shine Muscat Daifuku
[Price]
1 piece: 281 yen (tax included)
4 pieces: 1,188 yen (tax included)
6 pieces: 1,793 yen (tax included)
8 pieces: 2,441 yen (tax included)
10 pieces: 3,024 yen (tax included)
[Expiration date]
Four days
[Sales period]
Mid-August to mid-January

Inside the daifuku is the selected Shine Muscat.

The size is such that the moment I saw the actual Shine Muscat used I instinctively said “Big”.

Shine Muscat from Konno Vineyard

During this period (around the beginning of August – mid September), Shine Muscat from Konno Vineyard​ is used.
* After mid-September, Shine Muscat from Mr. Oyama of Tendo City has been used.

The Motozawa district of Yamagata City is the area where grape cultivation is most active in Yamagata City. Among such orchards, Konno Vineyard has fans from outside the prefecture in addition to locals when the grape picking time comes. Is known to connoisseurs has the place to go to buy high quality grapes.

▲ Mr. Tomoo Konno, the owner of the vineyard

▲ Shine Muscat at Konno Vineyard (photographed in late July)

Large Shine Muscat remains as it is

This daifuku is made by gently wrapping a large grain of Shine Muscat in glutinous Hime-no-Mochi rice from the prefecture.
The crispy texture of the grape and the fresh juice that spreads in your mouth will make you feel happy at once.

This Shine Muscat daifuku is a product that won the “1st Yamagata Souvenir Confectionery Contest Grand Prize (Prefectural Governor’s Award)” in 2015.

It is an excellent sweet made by repeating trial and error, from adjusting the size and sugar content of the grapes used and the sweetness of the bean paste.

The creator of the Shine Muscat Daifuku

Here is Michiharu Misawa​ head of the Juichiya manufacturing department and creator of the Shine Muscat daifuku.

About seven years ago, when Mr. Misawa wanted to make Japanese sweets that made use of the rich Yamagata fruits, he focused on the production that Yamagata Prefecture was focusing one. At that time it was Shine Muscat as you can eat the whole seedless grape with its skin still on.

Therefore, this Shine Muscat Daifuku was completed with the cooperation of Mr. Konno of Konno Vineyard, which grows high-quality grapes, and with advice even at the trial production stage.

Shine Muscat cultivated by Mr. Konno has a maximum sugar content of 28 degrees, and some of them are 20 grams or more, but the ones used for Shine Muscat Daifuku have​ a sugar content of 17 to 20 degreesand​ weigh 15 to 20 grams.​ Mr. Konno said that he carefully selected the appropriate grapes to make daifuku, and tried not to disturb their aroma as much as possible.

New item Shine Muscat shortcake

And here is the​ Shine Muscat shortcake, which is lined up in the showcase.

Shine Muscat is used abundantly on and inside the cake.

Shine Muscat shortcake
[Price]
400 yen (tax included)

Super large special muscat parfait

Restaurant on the 2nd floor

The second floor of the Juichiya Nanokamachi main branch is a Western-style restaurant that mainly serves Western dishes such as omelet rice and hamburger steak.

This restaurant has a nostalgic and warm atmosphere, it is run by a long-established confectionery store, and there are plenty of desserts such as cakes and parfaits.

Shine Muscat Parfait

Of course, this time we will focus on Shine Muscat desserts.

Not only as a dessert after lunch, there are many customers who come just for this.

There are two types of Shine Muscat parfaits.

A​ Special Muscat parfait​ that is too luxurious, with a lot of large shine muscat grapes, and a ​ Shine Muscat parfait​ recommended as a dessert after a meal.

Parfait with Shine Muscat
[Price]
Special Muscat Parfait: 1,500 yen (tax included)
Shine Muscat Parfait: 880 yen (tax included)

Here is a​ Special Muscat parfait​ with plenty of super-large Shine Muscat.

It is a wonderful collaboration between soft serve ice cream and Shine Muscat that Juichiya has been making for 65 years.

Please look at the size of this grape!

The Shine Muscat used for the parfait are from the same vineyard as the ones used for the daifuku sweets. They are the ones too big to fit in the daifuku, grains of 21 grams or more. You will be surprised by their size when the parfait arrives.

Moreover, a larger grain doesn’t mean more sweetness. Grapes with a high sugar content (sugar content degree of 21 or more) are put into the daifuku, which is extremely sweet and very juicy!

Frozen yogurt ice cream is added under the soft serve ice cream, and the sweetness of Shine Muscat and the sourness of yogurt are the best match! You can enjoy it until the end without getting bored.

In conclusion...

Shine Muscat grapes are raised by a farmer in Yamagata from soil preparation to picking.

Daifuku and parfaits are made as sweets and desserts with the experience and skill of craftsmen, with the utmost respect for their thoughts and taste.

While thinking about the thoughts and techniques of the various people who made this sweet, why not be a little extravagant and enjoy the elegant taste of Yamagata Prefecture?