Amaou Strawberry Magic: Embrace Japan’s Finest!

The name “Amaou” (あまおう) is an acronym for the Japanese adjectives amai (sweet), marui (round), ooi (big), and umai (delicious). This describes Amaou strawberries perfectly: they are consistently round, large, and sweet.

There are four major kinds of strawberry grown on Japanese soil: Sagahonoka strawberries from Saga Prefecture, Benihoppe strawberries from Shizuoka Prefecture, Tochiotome strawberries from Tochigi Prefecture, and Amaou strawberries from Fukuoka Prefecture. 

Amaou is the most famous and widely considered the best of all these varieties. In Japan, the variety is called the “King of Strawberries.” The Amaou strawberries are famous within the Japanese borders and are frequently exported to Hong Kong and Taiwan as a luxury product.

The Origins of the “King of Strawberries”

Fukuoka Prefecture is located at the northern tip of Kyushu (the southernmost island of Japan). It took six years for the Agricultural Experiment Station in Fukuoka Prefecture to develop the “perfect” Amaou strawberry strain. The station began research in 1999 but officially registered the strawberries in 2005.

After Amaou became an officially registered variant, it exploded in popularity. However, supply remains low since Amaou strawberries can only be grown in Fukuoka, making them even more valuable! If you want to grow Amaou strawberries outside of Fukuoka, you must wait until 2025.

The average sugar content of an Amaou strawberry is above 11%, while its acidity must remain between 0.5~0.6. The strawberry must also be significant and weighs between 40 and 50g. The Guinness Book of Records even certified an Amaou strawberry as the world’s heaviest!

If you missed last February’s berry-themed box, don’t worry, Tokyo Treat’s Japanese subscription box regularly sends out strawberry and other Japanese fruit-based snacks for you to try!

The Amaou strawberry cultivation process is far from simple. They are grown inside temperature-controlled vinyl greenhouses. Each plant is carefully cared for, and only the best-looking strawberries are selected for sale.

Three Tips for Buying the Best Japanese Strawberries

Purchase during peak season!

The best time for these strawberries is from December to May. The first harvest is called “Ichiban Ichigo,” which means “Best Strawberry.” These strawberries are huge and sweet. After the first harvest comes the second harvest, then the third harvest, etc. As the harvests progress, the strawberries become smaller and less sweet. So December, right when the season starts, is the best time to buy Amaou strawberries.

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The redder, the better!

Amaou strawberries are already a deeper red than most varieties. However, even amongst them, you can get different shades of color. The deeper the red color, the sweeter the strawberry will be. But if the red is too deep, the strawberry might be overripe, affecting the flavor.

The rounder, the sweeter!

The shape can also affect a strawberry’s sweetness. It is said that the sugar collects at the tip of the strawberry, so if the tip is broader and the shape of the strawberry is more round, the strawberry should have higher sugar content.

The Amaou Strawberry in Japanese Sweets

One of Fukuoka’s most famous desserts is Amaou Strawberry ichigo daifuku. Ichigo daifuku is a traditional Japanese dessert or wagashi. To create ichigo daifuku, a strawberry is enveloped in azuki red bean paste, then wrapped with a layer of mochi (sticky rice cake) and rolled into a ball. The fresh tartness of the strawberry goes exceptionally well with the sticky mochi and sweet azuki. 

Ichigo daifuku are often eaten in the winter when strawberries are in season, especially during winter festivals. In fact, strawberry daifuku is such a popular sweet in Japan that they even have Kit Kat flavor! And when ichigo daifuku use these special strawberries, they become even more delicious.

Another popular dessert featuring the special fruit is the Japanese Christmas cake. These cakes are made from layers of red strawberries, whipped cream, and sponge cake. The highest-end versions of Christmas cake use Amaou strawberries rather than ordinary ones, elevating this confection to perfection.