KuzuBar is a Japanese-style ice bar made using kudzu (or kuzu), a traditional ingredient with a long history in Japan. Kudzu is a type of plant, which has long been grown for its high quality edible starchy roots well known for their traditional use as a medicinal food or as an ingredient for Japanese confections. While “anko,” or a sweet paste made from azuki red beans and sugar, is often used for traditional Japanese sweets, this product uses kudzu starch and various fruits instead. The resulting ice bar has a unique texture that lets you experience a new sensation Japanese sweet like never before. Colorful and vivid, it looks like a regular ice bar at first glance, but when eaten half-thawed, you can enjoy a delightfully crunchy texture and a springy texture of the kudzu and fruits. Also, thanks to the kudzu starch, the bar does not melt into a liquid at room temperature, making it convenient to carry around. Furthermore, it is an ideal snack when you are on a diet as, at less than 200 kcal each, it is healthy and keeps you feel full.
Founded in Hiratsuka City in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1951, now the Japanese confectionery with a history of over 70 years is run by the third generation who is a confectioner himself. Each made carefully by hand, the kudzu ice bars come available in a total of 10 flavors made with eight different types of fruits, including the soda-flavored “Shonan Blue” inspired by the sea in the local area and the “Uji Matcha” made from classic Japanese tastes—azuki beans and green tea.