LYNNWOOD — For years, Everett resident Ayako Brown relied on her mother’s visits to satisfy her sweet tooth for traditional Japanese treats.
Whenever her mom visited from Kyoto, Brown always asked her to bring “those cookies from Japan.”
But no more.
J. Sweets, a store that sells Japanese sweets will open a shop at the Alderwood mall in Lynnwood. An exact date hasn’t been set, but early August is the target, Randy Higa, company vice president,, said in an email.
“We’ll be featuring both traditional and modern Japanese sweets from brands such as Minamoto Kitchoan, Yoku Moku, Kobe Fugetsudo, Shiroi Koibito, Hattendo, Mochi Cream,” Higa said.
The store will be located near the Made in Washington Store, close to the mall entrance to Nordstrom.
Typically lighter and less sweet than European and American confections, Japanese sweets are usually “vegan-friendly and less packed with sugar than their western counterparts,” according to Mountainplums.com, a blog devoted to international cuisines.
Main ingredients include green tea powder known as matcha, rice flour and a paste made of red beans, known as anko.
J. Sweets will offer traditional Japanese goodies known as wagashi, and western style, yougashi, sweets. Their menu includes matcha mochi, sweet red bean paste wrapped with soft rice cake coated with matcha green tea powder, and tsuya, sweet red bean paste sandwiched between Japanese-style pancakes.
“I’m so happy. I’ll now be able to buy those special cookies here,” said Brown who grew up in Kyoto, Japan.
Nicely wrapped and not too sweet, “they’re a special treat you might bring to someone’s house as a gift,” she said.
Ayako’s mother-in-law, Daily Herald reporter Andrea Brown, is also a fan.
Among her favorites — cigares, tightly rolled, butter cookies with a delicate vanilla taste. “They’re delicate but mighty,” Brown said. And don’t forget Royce’ chocolate, “rich and creamy,” she said.
J. Sweets’ parent company, Toyko-based Jalux, operates more than 100 outlets in 27 airports across Japan.
Jalux Americas, the U.S. division headquartered in El Segundo, California, currently operates 11 J. Sweets stores in California, Nevada, Illinois and Vancouver B.C.
The Lynnwood location will be the chain’s 12th store. The retailer opened a pop-up J. Sweets shop a few years ago at the Uwajimaya store in Bellevue, but closed when Uwajimaya underwent renovations.
The first J. Sweets store opened in 2009 in San Jose.
Janice Podsada: 425-339-3097; jpodsada@heraldnet.com;
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