Zunda, the Sweet Side of Savoury Japanese Soybeans

Discover the Unique Local Specialty of Sendai

Want to learn new ways to enjoy edamame? Edamame are green soybeans that carry a buttery and nutty taste with a hint of umami, and usually served as a starter dish at izakayas in Japan. They have also been used in a variety of other ways, including as an ingredient in Western-style salads. 

In Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, you can also have them in the form of zunda, a local sweet signature dish of the city. To make this treat, boiled edamame is peeled, crushed and seasoned with salt and sugar.

The origins of zunda have been traced back to Japan’s Sengoku period (circa 15th to the 17th century), and there are many different accounts of how zunda was created.  One of the records believe that Date Masamune, the founder of Sendai, crushed edamame with the handle of his jintachi (a type of Japanese sword) and served it with mochi. Today, zunda has become one of Sendai’s most famous delicacies.

The mouthfeel and flavour of zunda is lighter than azuki (Japanese red bean paste); it tastes a bit sweet and bears a slightly chunky mouthfeel. The traditional way of enjoying zunda is to wrap it around mochi; this dish is known as zunda mochi.

Today, there are a variety of contemporary desserts that highlight zunda as a star ingredient. You can find many shops in Sendai that sells zunda-related snacks and drinks, and one of them is Zunda Saryo, located on the second floor of JR Sendai Station. Other than the traditional zunda mochi, they also offer confectioneries that incorporate zunda, such as cheesecakes, milkshakes, and even Swiss rolls!