Vitamin Castella is a simple yet deeply beloved snack from Hokkaido. Sold exclusively in Hokkaido, this lightly sweet castella has been enjoyed by generations of local residents and is often described as a Hokkaido soul food.
The story of Vitamin Castella began in 1917, when founder Kashio Takahashi opened Takahashi Confectionery in Asahikawa after learning how to make castella in Nagasaki, the historic birthplace of Japanese castella.
After World War I, food shortages left many children suffering from poor nutrition. In response, an inexpensive and nourishing stick-shaped castella was developed. Production began in 1921, and this became the predecessor of today’s Vitamin Castella.
Around 1950, vitamins B1 and B2, which were commonly used in school lunches at the time, were added to the stick-shaped castella. The product was subsequently given the name “Vitamin Castella.”
After the war, it became especially popular as a snack among agricultural day laborers. During the busy farming season, production reached as many as 60,000 pieces a day, reflecting how widely the simple confection was enjoyed.
In 1961, Vitamin Castella received the Chairman’s Award at the 15th National Confectionery Exposition. Its popularity has continued for generations, making it one of the sweets most closely associated with everyday life in Hokkaido.
The name “Vitamin” also reflects the product’s history. In an era when nutritional shortages were a serious concern, the confection was developed with the hope of providing children and working people with an affordable, satisfying food.
The basic production method was established around the 1950s and has remained almost unchanged. Like ordinary Japanese castella, the main ingredients include wheat flour, eggs, sugar and honey.
However, the recipe uses less egg and sugar and a greater proportion of wheat flour in order to keep production costs low. This results in a castella with less moisture than a typical castella cake, giving it a distinctive texture and allowing it to have a shelf life of approximately three months.
Vitamin Castella is more than a simple cake. Its long history is closely connected with the changing food culture of Hokkaido, from the difficult years after the war to everyday snacks enjoyed by generations of local people.
For visitors to Asahikawa, Furano and Biei, this humble stick-shaped castella offers an opportunity to taste a small piece of Hokkaido’s modern history.