Have you heard of Babahera Ice Cream, a summer staple in Akita? A thorough explanation of the charm of this cute and retro homemade ice cream!

Have you ever seen pink and yellow ice cream presented like a rose and handed to you?

It's "Babahera Ice Cream," a summer specialty of Akita Prefecture . Its simple taste and nostalgic sales style have been loved by locals for many years, and it has now become a popular local delicacy among tourists as well.

This time, we'll be introducing all the charms of Babahera ice cream, from the background of its creation to where you can buy it and its modern evolution!

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What is "Babahera Ice Cream"? The origin of its unique name

The word "babahera" is a name unique to Akita that includes a dialect

"Baba" means "grandmother" in Akita dialect, and "hera" refers to the metal spatula used to scoop and serve ice cream. So "Babahera Ice Cream" means

Ice cream made by an old lady using a spatula

That's what it means

In fact, many of the vendors selling Babahera ice cream are elderly women who stand under colorful parasols with ice cream cans in front of them, handing out ice cream with a smile to passersby. The sales style is old-fashioned, withhomemade ice cream kept in cooler cans rather than freezers, and skillfully scooped out with a spatula to order.

What does it taste like? Characteristics of Babahera Ice Cream

The appeal of Babahera ice cream isn't just its cute appearance. Its most distinctive feature isbetween the two colors of ice cream—pink (strawberry flavor) and yellow (banana flavor)—whichare skillfully layered with a spatulaa rose-like shape. It's so beautiful you almost don't want to eat it, and it's incredibly photogenic.

Furthermore, the ice cream itself has a light flavor anda texture somewhere between sorbet and ice cream. It's not too sweet, making it light and easy to eat even on a hot summer day.

The latest Babahera ice cream trends have evolved into something even more colorful!

Recently, Babahera Ice Cream has evolved beyond the standard pink and yellow, appearing in a variety of colors and flavors. Below we introduce the main variations and flavor information!

Blue & White (Soda & Milk)

• A combination of soda (blue) and milk (white)
• The refreshing soda flavor is combined with mellow milk, giving it a light, sorbet-like texture that is very refreshing
• This is also a limited edition color that is sold at special locations such as Blaublitz Akita's match venues

Melon flavor (green & white)

• Made with melon juice from Akita Prefecture. The green one is melon flavored, and the white one is milk flavored
• It features the natural aroma of melon and a refreshing aftertaste, making it popular for its refreshing taste

Grape flavor (purple & white)

• A purple and white combination made with Osawa grape juice from Yokote City
• It has a flavor similar to grape sorbet and is delicious when eaten alternately with milk

Soda & Lemon (Blue & Yellow)

• A refreshing combination of soda (blue) and lemon (yellow)
• It matches the team colors of Blaublitz Akita and has appeared in matches and other events

Hydrangea Blue (blue & purple)

• Hydrangeas are only available for sale during the hydrangea season at Unshoji Temple in Oga City
• The colors and flavors are named after flowers: blue is ramune flavor and purple is blueberry flavor

Pineapple & Apple (Pink & Yellow)

• Pink = apple flavor, yellow = pineapple flavor
• This is a new flavor developed by Kodama Reika in 2020, and is sweet, sour, and juicy

Brown sugar syrup and kinako (brown)

• The yellow is kinako and the light brown is brown sugar syrup
• A Japanese taste with a sorbet-like feel that combines Japanese richness with a refreshing feeling

Where and when it is sold

They are mainly sold onlyduring the summer months, from May to September. When the weather gets hot, parasols appear in various locations throughout Akita Prefecture.

Where can I buy it?

They are commonly found in the following places:

• Shoulders of major roads such as national highways
• Roadside stations in Akita Prefecture
• A venue for summer events such as the Kanto Festival and the Omagari Fireworks Festival
• A tourist hub near Akita Station and the airport

Salespeople often hold up colorful umbrellas as a sign that they are there, so you can easily find them even while driving. When making a purchase, keep the following points in mind!

• Cash payment is the primary method(cards and electronic money are generally not accepted).
• Depending on the weather, they might pack up early, so if you see them, it's best to buy them immediately!
• difficulty fulfilling orders for the mixed platter when there is a high volume of orders.

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Babahera Maker and History

The company known as the originator of Babahera ice creamShindo Reika. It is said to have appeared in the 1950s, and initially, it was a frozen dessert made at home that was sold in buckets on the roadside.

There are now several manufacturers, each with slightly different flavors and colors

Another characteristic is the community-oriented business model in which manufacturers lend ice cans and parasols to sales staff (mostly elderly part-time women) who then go out to sell the products only during the summer months

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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Enjoy it at home! Babahera ice cream can also be purchased online

Nowadays, you can enjoy Babahera ice cream without having to travel to the area

These can be ordered online via frozen delivery from manufacturers and local specialty shops, and come in a variety of options, from those with realistically recreated corn kernels to convenient cup-packaged versions.

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Even if you have now left Akita, you can always experience that nostalgic taste in the comfort of your own home

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Be sure to try the handmade ice cream that brightens up Akita's summer!

Even as times have changed from the Showa era to the Heisei and Reiwa eras, Babahera ice cream continues to color the summers of Akita in its unchanging form. Its simple sweetness, the warmth of human hands that goes into making it, and its beautiful appearance—it is truly an experience that can be described as "a memory to be savored."

If you visit Akita, be sure to find that parasol and try the Babahera experience, which will cool your body and mind!

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