隠し秘密:「Japonais」
Hidden secret: "Japonais"
Verborgenes Geheimnis: "Japonais"
Secret caché: "Japonais"

Hidden secret: "Japonais" almond meringue cake - cookies filled with hazelnut-flavored buttercream.

The term "Japonais" is also the French word for Japanese.

An unusual but beautiful story!

I have been trying, for almost 3 years, to unveil the secret of the "Japonais" almond meringue cake - cookies filled with hazelnut flavored buttercream. It's not about the ingredients – the recipe, but the name or origin of this wonderful pastries. I researched on the Internet, talked with Japanese and asked all the pastry shops here in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

But nobody knows why they call this pastry "Japonais"!

The research and development department of the Swiss company Hug AG, which produces this pastry since the 50s, could not bring any light into the darkness.

http://www.wernli.ch/en/produkte/product_range/?tx_hugproducts_feproducts%5Bproduct%5D=65&tx_hugproducts_feproducts%5Baction%5D=show&tx_hugproducts_feproducts%5Bcontroller%5D=Product&cHash=52f69908f8bde79062d03e421fc7135c

The Hug AG, also started a request at the Richemont competence center - bakery pastry shop in Luzern, Switzerland. The answer: From where the name "Japonais" originates I can unfortunately not say. Even in all our old pastry recipe books, there is no answer to this designation. Whether it comes from Japan or is made up of different languages cannot exactly be define.

The request at the Swiss Baker Association: The name "Japonais" had appeared in the literature for more than 70 years, the exact naming is not documented in writing. My earlier, unfortunately now deceased colleague and expert - teacher had according to my grizzled knowledge, based the name on the Japanese flag, a red dot in the white field. For the "Japonais" it is a chocolate point in a brown field.

Japan Information and Cultural Center Embassy of Japan in Bern, Switzerland: Unfortunately, we have no information about this quite exciting question.

Some people say: The "Japonais" is a kind of sweet Sushi. I do personally not believe this, the Sushi are available in Europe only since about 20, maximum 40 years. Perhaps one of the Swiss pastry chef, before 70 or more years, has developed these wonderful pastries in Japan (speculation). Switzerland has more than 150 years of commercial relations with Japan.

Another version: The "Japonais" is a pastry made of so-called "Japonaismasse", a dough with egg whites and almond powder. Originally they had painted on this white dough red jam, which is similar to the Japanese flag - hence "Japonaismasse”. Today this pastry is made rather without red jam, the name "Japonais" but remained.

The “Zuger Kirschtorte” (cherry torte from Zug) is a layer cake from Switzerland that consists of layers of nut-meringue "Japonais", sponge cake and butter cream, and is flavored with “Kirschwasser” (cherry brandy). Annually 250.000 “Zuger Kirschtorten” (cherry torte from Zug) are produced in the Canton Zug.

The”Zuger Kirschtorten Gesellschaft” association of the cherry torte from Zug: In the “Zuger Kirschtorten” these cake layers constitute indeed an important part of the torte. When creating the "Zuger Kirschtorten” museum the pastry - café shop Treichler, inventor house of the “Zuger Kirschtorte” invested large resources in research of their history. Many historically relationships and objects have been discovered and secured. Among other things, the researchers even pursued the origins of the "Japonais". Unfortunately, they came to no historical reliable findings. As for the name, there are many, quite adventurous theories. Unfortunately, I cannot bring light on the dark background of the name - origin.

http://www.zuger-kirschtorten-gesellschaft.ch/

http://www.treichler-zuger-kirschtorte.ch/treichler/konditorei/

Even more confusing, it is also a term that is used to describe something that is made in the Asian style because “Japonais” (which means Japanese in French) is used to describe both the Japanese and Chinese styles of cooking.

Apparently the secret of the name or origin "Japonais" cannot easily be unveiled. Maybe it could be something that needs to be more explored or not at all?

Perhaps the name or origin of the "Japonais" almond meringue cake - cookies filled with hazelnut-flavored buttercream will remain a mystery. However, we know the ingredients – know how to make it and consequently we can enjoy these delicious pastries with a coffee or a tea.

By the way, my business partners and acquaintances from Japan are every time amused when I show them these pastries or talk about it!

Thank you