Yellow and pink ice flower blooming in Akita! What is "Babahera"?

When it comes to gourmet food in Akita Prefecture, there's one thing you absolutely can't forget: ice cream called "Babahera."

As summer approaches in Akita Prefecture, people start raising parasols on the streets and selling Babahera ice cream. You can almost always find Babahera ice cream stalls along the roads and at tourist spots throughout the prefecture

Babahera ice cream is a symbol of Akita Prefecture's summer and autumn seasons, and is a representative summer delicacy

We will explore the charm of the nationally famous "Babahera" and its beauty, which has been described as "blooming." Babahera ice cream is not only delicious, but also very beautiful!

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Babahera is a flower-shaped ice cream sold by old ladies (babas)

Babahera is an ice cream sold throughout Akita Prefecture. It gets its name from the fact that "baba" (which means grandmother or aunt in the local dialect) is the ice cream scooped with a spatula and served in a cone

Akita Prefecture is a snowy region in the north of Japan. However, in the summer, it is not uncommon for temperatures to reach midsummer, so the people of the prefecture have long been selling ice cream on the streets to beat the heat

The ice cream served by the ladies is not only a summer tradition, but also a taste of home that Akita residents look back on fondly, saying, "I grew up eating this ice cream."

Not only are there cherry blossom viewing and fireworks festivals, but in the summer, many Babahera stalls are set up along the national highways. People from other prefectures are amazed and ask, "There are so many ice cream stalls?", and the area is often featured on television programs introducing local areas

Babahera is a beautiful ice cream that is said to "bloom." The ladies use their spatulas to create petals that look like roses, and then hand them to you

Each auntie has her own unique way of making roses, and there are various types, from aunties who make flowers that look exactly like roses to aunties who make flowers that look like rose buds that have just begun to bloom

Babahera is made up of yellow and pink ice cream, so it looks just like a flower made of yellow and pink, and its beautiful appearance has sparked its popularity nationwide

Just say, "Hey, can I have one, Auntie," and pay her. She'll skillfully use a spatula to create an ice flower right in front of you. It's so much fun to watch. The finished ice cream is almost too good to eat

Shindo Reika ＜Information＞

• Name: Shindo Reika Co., Ltd
• Address: 12-1 Shimoyanagane, Kakumazaki, Oga City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0185-46-2066
• Official URL:http://babahera.net/

Google Map

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This nationwide ice cream is available at train stations and souvenir shops

Babahera is not only sold at street stalls. It is sold at supermarkets and souvenir shops throughout Akita Prefecture, whether the stalls are open or not, even in the colder months. You can also buy it at the convenience store at Akita Station

Outside of these stalls, other types of ice cream are sold, such as soft serve ice cream, cups, and large containers that the whole family can eat

If you're a tourist, you'll want to try the rose-shaped variety. They are sometimes sold at roadside stations, so be sure to check if they have them when you're buying souvenirs

As of the end of October 2017, rose flower type babahera is on sale at the souvenir shop in Akita Station

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lastly

Babahera is an ice cream from Akita Prefecture that is well-known nationwide. It is hard to find it sold outside of summer and early autumn

Autumn and winter in Akita are very cold, so eating ice cream outside can make you shiver uncontrollably. However, many visitors from outside the prefecture and overseas still want to try and see this babahera, and sales channels have expanded considerably compared to the past

Nowadays, no matter what time of year you visit Akita, you can find Babahera in various stores. Babahera-flavored sweets that are only available in the region are also sold. They are also available online

It is said that "Akita is synonymous with Babahera" ice cream, so be sure to give this local flavor a try

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