Ferme La Terre Biei's popular Double Cream Sandwich introduces a limited edition package featuring original illustrations by picture book author Hiroshi Abe, known for his work on the beloved children's book "Arashi no Yoru ni" (One Stormy Night) published by Kodansha, with text by Yuichi Kimura. Abe is based in Asahikawa, Hokkaido.
Having worked as a zookeeper at Asahiyama Zoo for 25 years, Abe has deep knowledge of wildlife and freely drew illustrations featuring animals from Hokkaido's forests for this collaboration.
The special package includes six unique labels with somewhat nostalgic characters and an original package design that opens like a picture book.
When the development team was wondering what new flavor to create that would connect with the package, they consulted with Abe, who suggested, "The animals' favorite food is wild grapes." After tasting various wild grapes from Hokkaido, they discovered wild grapes from Yoichi that had the best balance of tartness and sweetness.
The wild grapes from Yoichi are first carefully prepared by washing, removing from the vine, and boiling whole in a large pot. The juice is strained from the skins and seeds to make homemade wild grape jam. To fully preserve the wild flavor of the wild grapes, they created a two-layer filling: wild grape jam on the sable, topped with wild grape cream, sandwiched between two layers and covered with another sable.
The crispy sable with Okhotsk salt pairs perfectly with the wild grape flavor, and the subtle tartness unique to wild grapes provides an accent that never gets boring.
Product: Double Cream Sandwich Wild Grape
Available at: All Ferme La Terre Biei stores and online shop (excluding New Chitose Airport Craft Studio store)
Price:
- 1 piece: ¥486 (tax included)
- 6-piece set: ¥3,564 (tax included)
(Includes 2 pieces each of Plain, Chocolat, and Wild Grape)
About Double Cream Sandwich
A room-temperature butter cheese sandwich made with two-layer cream filling that brings out the deliciousness of Hokkaido ingredients. Three sables sandwich two layers of cream.
The cream is made by combining Hokkaido butter with cream cheese powder made from Hokkaido raw milk, creating a mellow and rich flavor.
The sable uses "Biei no Kaze" (Biei's Wind), an original blend of Biei wheat flour, with a hint of Okhotsk salt as a secret ingredient. By resting the dough after mixing and baking it thin, the sable has a pleasant texture that allows you to enjoy the deep flavor of the dough itself.
Available in three flavors: standard Plain and Chocolat made with Hokkaido ingredients, plus seasonal limited flavors.
About Ferme La Terre Biei
With the concept of "living with nature," the company aims to make sweets, bread, and dishes using domestic ingredients without additives as much as possible.
Based in Biei, Hokkaido, they use original blended Biei wheat and local ingredients in their confectionery, bread, and restaurant cafe, contributing to the community through delicious and safe products that connect food and agriculture. On July 20, 2025, they opened their Craft Studio store at New Chitose Airport.
About Hiroshi Abe
Born in Asahikawa, Hokkaido in 1948. Currently resides in Asahikawa.
From 1972, he worked as a zookeeper at Asahiyama Zoo for 25 years, caring for various animals. He met many animals and learned many things from them. In particular, he studied philosophy from gorillas and art from elephants.
The "behavioral exhibition" dream that the zookeepers discussed together was preserved in his drawings and became the key to Asahiyama Zoo's revival. He retired from the zoo in 1996 and currently focuses on picture book creation while holding exhibitions, lectures, and workshops nationwide. Since 2011, he has operated "Gallery Pulpul" (Asahikawa 7-jo 8-chome), an art space for both children and adults.
Major awards include the Kodansha Publication Culture Award Picture Book Prize and the Sankei Children's Publication Culture Award JR Prize for "Arashi no Yoru ni" (Kodansha), the Shogakukan Children's Publication Culture Award for "Gorilla Nikki" (Shogakukan), the Sankei Children's Publication Culture Art Award for "Miyazawa Kenji 'Asahikawa' yori" (BL Publishing), and the Japan Children's Pen Prize Picture Book Award and Hokkaido-related Picture Book Grand Prize for "Kuma to Shonen" (Bronze Shinsha). He has published over 250 books including "Doubutsuen Guide" (Fukuinkan Shoten) and "Lion no Ashita no Ichinichi" (Kosei Publishing).
He feels, learns from, and draws nature. In 2026, he is the domestic nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustrators.
