The world's largest grain packed with rich nutrition and umami flavor

The star of this product is "doramame" (dora beans) from Chiba Prefecture, a high-grade variety of black soybean called Tanbaguro. The appeal of "Tanbaguro" is the size of its kernels, which are the largest in the world. While regular black soybeans weigh about 40g per 2 kernels, Tanbaguro beans weigh more than twice as much at over 80g. They are chewy and have a pleasant texture. Due to their good shape and rich umami flavor, they have long been valued as a New Year's boiled soybean. In addition, their high nutritional value and functional ingredients have been reevaluated, and they are attracting attention as a health food.

"Doramame" named after the dragon legend

Among the Tanbaguro soybeans, "doramame" (dora beans) are a popular specialty of Sakaemachi, Chiba Prefecture. Tanbaguro black soybeans are difficult to cultivate, and most have been produced in Western Japan, but Sakaemachi, Chiba Prefecture, is one of the few areas in Eastern Japan where they are cultivated. "Doramame," which is characterized by its large size, was named after a dragon legend that is passed down in Sakaemachi.

A premium dessert made with doramame beans, a local specialty of Sakaemachi, Chiba Prefecture.

The carefully grown "doramame" beans are highly valued as an ingredient in sweets due to their rich flavor and sweetness. "Doramamekan" is made by cooking the doramame beans, the pride of Sakae Town, until they are plump and soft, and then encasing them in their original form in Kinkyokukan, a sweet paste made with Okinawan brown sugar. The luxurious floating doramame beans and the transparent amber-colored Kinkyokukan make this a visually beautiful treat.
Enjoy this Japanese-style jelly with a bouncy texture and subtle sweetness.

Please purchase in store (available from Saturday, November 1st)

Sakae Town, Chiba Prefecture and "Doramame"

Sakae Town is located in the northern part of Chiba Prefecture, in the Tone River basin, bordering Lake Inban to the south and Ibaraki Prefecture to the north, separated by the Tone River.
Its history is long, with settlements already forming around the hills before Christ. In the early Nara period, the area around Ryukakuji became the territory of a powerful clan, and there are over 110 ancient tombs scattered throughout the town. Sakaemachi's economy was supported by agriculture, primarily rice, but a policy to reduce rice production led to a shift to other crops, and as part of this, black soybeans began to be cultivated in 10. The abundant water and soil of the Tone River basin are well suited to the cultivation of "Tamba Kuro," a type of black bean that is rare in eastern Japan, and the establishment of this production area led to the development of the "doramame" we know today.

Growth of Doramame

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  Doramame producer Hiroshi Ogawa
  We learned a lot about dora beans, including their deliciousness and appeal, as well as the difficulties of cultivating them.

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"Ryukakuji Temple" and "Dragon Legend"

"Dora Mame" in the shape of a dragon
Symbol mark

Ryukakuji Temple in Sakaemachi is the oldest temple in Chiba Prefecture, and legend has it that in 2, a dragon girl appeared from heaven and built the temple buildings (main hall, pagoda) overnight. In 709, the summer was particularly hot and there was a water shortage, so Emperor Shomu ordered the monk Shakumyo of Ryukakuji Temple to pray for rain. The little dragon, the lord of Lake Inban, listened to his prayer and made it rain for seven days and seven nights. However, because he made it rain without the permission of the great dragon in heaven, the little dragon was killed.
The dragon, who sacrificed himself to save the people from a drought, was given a gracious funeral and is still worshipped in the temple to this day.