A spring-only dessert called the "Butterfly-Dancing Rapeseed Flower Field Cake" (ちょうちょ舞う菜の花畑のケーキ) has arrived at Okamedo Old Folk House Cafe in Toyohashi, Aichi. The cake was born from a collaboration between Okamedo, a wagashi shop with over 70 years of history, and Okawa Beekeeping (大河養蜂), a third-generation beekeeper based in Tahara City.
A Rare Honey at the Heart of the Dessert
Each spring, the area around Tahara City in Aichi Prefecture turns bright yellow with rapeseed fields. In recent years, however, these fields have gradually been disappearing—and with them, the rapeseed honey that comes from their blooms.
The honey used in this dessert is harvested by Okawa Beekeeping, a third-generation operation in Tahara City. Rapeseed flowers have a short blooming season and yields are heavily influenced by weather conditions. As rapeseed fields have declined in number, the honey has become increasingly difficult to produce consistently, earning it the nickname "phantom honey."
The honey is noted for its mild, gentle sweetness and a distinctive crystalline, slightly gritty texture that develops as it naturally sets over time—qualities that are exclusive to the spring season.
Japanese and Western Techniques Combined
The "Butterfly-Dancing Rapeseed Flower Field Cake" brings together Japanese confectionery craftsmanship with Western dessert ideas. Each serving includes:
- Baumkuchen baked fresh to order
- Homemade tsubuan (sweet chunky red bean paste)
- Two locally grown strawberries
- Steamed dough and cream arranged to evoke a rapeseed flower field in full bloom
The finishing touch is a butterfly shape crafted from a strawberry. When the cake is served, rapeseed honey is generously drizzled over it, gradually shifting the flavor toward something reminiscent of a honey shortcake.
A Collaboration Rooted in the Region
Okamedo has made collaboration with local producers a central part of its identity. This project is less a co-branded product and more a considered response to the question of how regional resources can be passed on to the future. By combining beekeeping—a primary industry—with wagashi production, the two have shaped the area's heritage into something that visitors can experience through taste.
Third-generation beekeepers Masaaki and Kana Okawa shared their thoughts: "You just don't see as many rapeseed fields as you used to. That's exactly what makes this honey so meaningful to us. When Okamedo told us they wanted to put this honey front and center in a dessert, we were genuinely moved. We hope this cake also gives people a chance to discover what rapeseed landscapes look like and what beekeeping is all about."
Cake Details
- Name: Butterfly-Dancing Rapeseed Flower Field Cake (ちょうちょ舞う菜の花畑のケーキ)
- Price: ¥1,300
- Availability: Until mid-April (limited quantity)
- Location: Okamedo Old Folk House Cafe
