Our pair of seasonal canelés for this month, “Salt of Guérande” and “Mango Orange” are available from today, July 1st.The Salt of Guérande canelés are made with salty dough flavored with “fruits of the sea” or salt of Guérande, France. You would enjoy the fresh afternote spreading as the mild saltiness gently brings out its sweetness.The Mango Orange canelés have dried mango covered by white bean paste inside, decorated with our homemade fresh orange jam mixed with mango puree on top. Its juicy orange color sparkles like the summer sun.The eleventh day of the summer solstice is called “Han-Gesho”. It is one of the important days for farmers as they considered it a target date to finish certain farm work such as rice planting. There are some places in Japan where they have a custom of eating certain unique foods on this day such as udon noodle, mackerel or even octopus in the Western part of the country. It is said that people started this custom of eating local delicacies as a way of wishing for a good harvest. Also, the rain around this time is called “Hange-Ame” and it is said that many days of heavy rain would last if it rains on this day. Han-Gesho of this year is tomorrow, the 2nd of July. The Rainy season may be halfway over. Before midsummer, it might be nice to appreciate rainy days once again.

7月の季節のカヌレは「仏ゲランド産塩」と「マンゴーオレンジ」が、本日7月1日(土)よりお目見えです。「仏ゲランド産塩」は”海の果実”と呼ばれるゲランド産塩を使った塩生地のカヌレです。まるみのあるしょっぱさが甘さを引き立て、爽やかな余韻が広がります。「マンゴーオレンジ」はドライマンゴーを白あんで包んだものを中に入れ、生のオレンジからつくった自家製のオレンジジャムにマンゴーのピューレを混ぜたジャムをのせました。みずみずしいオレンジ色が夏の太陽を想わせる一品です。夏至から数えて11日目の日を「半夏生」と言います。田植えや畑仕事を終わらせる目安とされ、農家にとっては大事な節目の日です。うどんや鯖を食べるなど日本各地で様々な風習がありますが、関西地方ではこの日にタコを食べる習わしがあります。農作物の豊作を願い、その土地でできるものを振る舞ったり、食べるようになったのが始まりだそうです。また、この頃に降る雨は「半夏雨」と言われ、半夏生の日に雨が降ると大雨が降り続くという言い伝えもあります。今年の半夏生は明日、7月2日です。梅雨も真ん中あたりでしょうか、夏本番を前に雨の景色も楽しみたいものです。