McDonald's Japan introduces Ichigo Daifuku pie this spring

Visitors to McDonald’s Japan this March will be able to get their hands on a new seasonal treat.

McDonald’s Japan has achieved considerable success by adeptly balancing the preservation of its American culinary heritage with the integration of local Japanese flavors into its menu offerings.

For instance, customers visiting a McDonald’s location in Japan during the current month who desire a sweet treat will find the familiar apple pie readily available. However, they will also have the option to indulge in a unique creation – the ichigo daifuku pie.

Ichigo daifuku is a highly esteemed Japanese-style confection. In its traditional form, it comprises a mochi dumpling encasing anko (sweet red bean paste) and a strawberry (ichigo in Japanese) at its center.

The Ichigo Daifuku pie contains 3 different fillings

For the Ichigo Daifuku Pie, McDonald’s Japan has reimagined the three core components of an ichigo daifuku, utilizing them as a filling within its signature pie crust.

The resulting confection presents a mix of tart and sweet flavors. Notably, the texture of the Ichigo Daifuku Pie is poised to captivate Japanese sweets enthusiasts.

Traditional ichigo daifuku is enveloped in mochi and exhibits a characteristically stretchy texture. In contrast, McDonald’s Japan employs a cooking process that renders its pie crusts exceptionally crispy, thereby promising a crunchy outer layer complemented by an inner chewiness in the Ichigo Daifuku Pie.

The crunchy crust of the pie is complemented by the chewy inner texture of mochi

The Ichigo Daifuku Pie, priced at 200 yen (approx. $1.35 USD/£1.04 GBP), is being introduced shortly before the anticipated commencement of the cherry blossom blooming season. To enhance the dessert’s springtime appeal, McDonald’s chefs have adorned it with a pink crust, reminiscent of sakura petals.

This color association is also evident in the chain’s latest beverage offerings, the McFizz Peach Lemonade, priced at 300 yen (approx. $2.02 USD/£1.56 GBP), and its soft serve ice cream-topped variant, the McFloat Peach Lemonade, priced at 380 yen (approx. $2.56 USD/£1.98 GBP).

The McFizz Peach Lemonade (left) and McFloat Peach Lemonade (right)

The McFizz and McFloat Peach Lemonade beverages are currently available for purchase. The Ichigo Daifuku Pie is scheduled to join the menu on March 12th and is anticipated to remain available until early April.

Source: Official Website