Minamoto Kitchoan

I’ve always enjoyed Minamoto Kitchoan’s products. If you’re not familiar with this company, they offer a variety of desserts that are beautifully wrapped and make fantastic gifts. There’s a large selection of desserts, from different mochi and jellies to cakes and cookies. However, I came here specifically for their green tea baumkuchen ($ 27).
I was thinking I would still have to drive to Baum’s Sho in Williamsburg just for tree ring cakes, but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. The green tea flavoring is particularly strong, which I absolutely love. It’s not overpowering, but you can definitely taste it. Japanese desserts, especially cakes, are semi-​sweet. This is no exception. The edges of the cake tend to have more sweetness, so don’t trim them off! I’ll let you decide if the baumkuchen here are as good as Juchheim’s or similar bakeries, but the ones from Minamoto are great in their own right.
While a lot of people go for the peach jelly, I fell in love with the fuku watashi senbei cookies! They had samples out the day I stopped by (cream and green tea), and both were fantastic. I’d buy a box of those cookies next time. Hopefully they have ayugashi when spring rolls around – I would definitely stop by again if they do!

I have always been in awe of Japanese hospitality and Minamoto is no exception. If you’re familiar with Minamoto Kitchoan’s frequent buyer cards, then you know that you get a stamp for every $ 5 you spend, and once you have collected 20 stamps, or spent $ 100, you get a $ 5 reward. I know that hardly sounds like a good reward, but it’s not difficult to spend $ 100 here, especially if you’re buying gifts.
I had purchased some gifts from Minamoto almost a year ago, and haven’t had a chance to use my $ 5 reward, so I decided to finally use it. I did feel slightly embarrassed to just collect a freebie and not make a purchase.
I told the lady at the counter that I just wanted the peach jelly thing and I wanted to use my rewards card. Since the item I chose was $ 4.50, she told me that she could not give me the 50 cent difference. Of course I said that was fine. I was not expecting her to acknowledge the price difference at all. I thought she would just hand me the item, but she carefully wrapped it for me even though I didn’t spend a single cent here. To me, that is a sign of good customer service.
This individually wrapped peach jelly did taste good. However, it was rather messy, because the sweet liquid inside gushed out when I opened it. It tastes very similar to one of those lychee jelly snacks, which makes me think it is really not worth $ 4.50.
In the past, I have enjoyed their mochis and kasutera. The mochi is usually light and tasty, not chewy and sticky. The kasutera is spongy, fluffy, and sweet, but not too sweet.
All in all, love Minamoto Kitchoan, not a big fan of my selection this time.

I remembered the last thing I did before leaving Taiwan was having a huge ice cream made in minanoto hence I missed this place a lot. Now finally got the chance to fulfill my dream again! I liked their white peach cake, green tea cake a lot which were not too sweet at all. Also the design was very cute so good for gifts as well. The only thing was the high price level though…

What an interesting little place. The sweets are alot prettier than, say a doughnut, but they lack the umph i think my American pallette is looking for.
We got the little cherry in jelly, it was tasty, but not amazing, and at $ 4 each, it’s a little crazy.
But I totally recommend coming here at least twice, to really get an idea of how you feel about it!

I’m a big fan of Minamoto Kitchoan.
They offer Japanese sweets (Wagashi), which are beautifully wrapped and taste great. They are delicate and slightly sweet. So good. The employees are always kind and wrap our goodies neatly.
If you visit Minamoto often, make sure you ask for their frequent buyers card. When you have enough stamps, you can get $ 5 off your next purchase. These sweets are on the pricier side. However, you can taste the quality ingredients used.
Definitely one of my favorite places to visit when I’m at Mitsuwa Marketplace. You can find them at Rockefeller Center as well. They offer more items there.

This Minamoto Kitchoan is the same as the one by Rockefeller Center in NYC, albeit smaller because it’s just a store in its own. Other than that, they sell the same products and the staff are very warm and friendly. I didn’t notice any wagashi that are available in NYC and not in this location so even though it’s small, it is very well stocked.
Important note: They do honor the same stamp card you use (any Minamoto Kitchoan does), so rack up those points for discounts on wagashi!

Located inside the Mitsuwa Marketplace, this stall is the quickie version of the Midtown location. Get in, get your fix, go home happy! Perfect if you know what you want, no overwhelming selection to confuse you. The kusamochi, made from yomogi with red bean paste filling, are the best I’ve had outside of Japan. (and better than some within Japan!) They are freshly prepared, and sits in its own mini-​case on top of the counter at the end of the stall.
If not for the steep cost ($ 2.50 per kusamochi, more for others), I would find myself here just about every day! Do yourself a favor and give this place a try!

Not as spectacular as Manhattan location but still just as delicious. Fewer selection due to the size of the stall, but definitely makes a convinient shopping opportunity.
Check the Manhattan location review for description of the sweets offered at Minamoto Kitchoan.
And yes, the cost is a bit steep, but it is so well worth the price.

With a selection of gorgeous desserts, from delicate seasonal cherries in a semi-​sweet jelly cover to sweet cakes with red bean and more, the costs are steep ($ 3 a piece), but the goods aren’t made here, maybe in the Midtown East or a bakery in the back.
Too bad they don’t give you samples.