Chinese manjuu is a snack that you can easily eat when you are hungry or as a staple food. There are many varieties of Chinese buns, including meat buns, pizza buns, chocolate buns, and kakuni buns, and the smell of these buns attracts people to buy them at convenience stores and tourist attractions. They are also sold frozen so that they can be easily enjoyed at home, and when it comes to frozen steamed buns, " Imuraya " is the most famous. Imuraya has been selling nikuman (meat buns) and anmanman (sweet buns) since 1964, and 2024 will mark the 60th anniversary of the company's founding. To commemorate its 60th anniversary, Imuraya has released a reissued version of its first reissued product, the " Ikasumi Man " from 1994, and we would like to review it here!
Imuraya's "Ikasumi Man" has been reissued!
This is a review of Imuraya's "Ikasumi Man"! The "ikasumi manju" was released 30 years ago in 1994, and although its "black" color was considered taboo in the food industry at the time, its impactful appearance and the Western-style flavor of the tomato sauce with macaroni made it a hit. The "ikasumi manju" that was so popular at the time is now available here!
On the back of the package, you can see Imuraya's mascot character "Hao Pao Panda. Refer to the recipe and heat it up!
Check the nutritional information!
Before we start cooking, let's check the Nutrition Facts label. Per 1 piece (70g)...
- Energy: 163kcal
- Protein: 5.0g
- Fat: 3.0g
- Carbohydrates: 29.1g
- Salt equivalent: 0.9g
At 163 kcal per serving, it provides the calories equivalent to about one onigiri (rice ball). It is good not only as a staple food, but also when you are hungry.
After checking the nutritional information, open the package!
Each bag contains two individually wrapped "ikasumi manju" (squid buns). It is nice and hygienic to have them individually wrapped when you want to eat them little by little!
The recipe is simple. Heat the inner bag in a microwave oven. If your microwave oven is equipped with a turntable, place it on the edge. If your microwave does not have a turntable, place it in the center. In this case, since there is no turntable, place it in the center and heat it.
Heat for 1 minute at 600w! After heating, steam in the inner bag for 1 to 2 minutes.
The moment I opened the inner bag, I could smell the rich aroma of tomato-based Italian.
Speaking of nikuman buns, you may be wondering about the ingredients inside. There are various ways to enjoy it, such as either splitting it before eating or eating it without splitting, but this time I tried splitting it from the center. As I was breaking it, tomato sauce with macaroni appeared! The aroma of tomato sauce and garlic is appetizing.
As for the skin, which is kneaded with squid smear powder, it is fluffy and easy to eat. The filling is made with tomato sauce and garlic, and the macaroni mixed with the sauce makes it look like an Italian dish. The buns are not floppy and clingy in the mouth as is typical of frozen food buns, but rather fluffy with just the right amount of moisture.
Comparison with the "4-pack bun series!
We compared it to the "4-packs of meat buns" from the "4-packs of frozen food" series, which is a standard product! The "4-packs of meat buns" has been newly released in a new eco-friendly package that does not use a tray.
Nutrition Facts per serving (standard 72g)
- Energy: 160kcal
- Protein：6.0g
- Fat: 3.7g
- Carbohydrates: 25.7g
- Salt equivalent: 0.7g
Compared to ikasumiman buns, the calorie content is a little more moderate.
As for the steamed buns, since they do not come in an inner bag, wrap them in a large piece of plastic wrap when warming them up. At 600w, each piece is heated for 1 minute and then steamed for 1 to 2 minutes to complete the cooking!
Compared to ikasumi manman, it has folds like a steamed bun. The aroma of bamboo shoots and minced meat is appetizing.
The surface of the skin is hard, but the inside is soft and fluffy. The bamboo shoots and minced meat have a sweetness like bean paste! Keep a stock of these buns and ikasumi buns in your freezer so that you can enjoy authentic steamed buns anytime you want!
Ikasumi Man" is now available in limited quantities!
Imuraya's "Ikasmiman" will be on sale from August 5, 2024 (Monday) for frozen products and from August 21, 2024 (Wednesday) for chilled products. Frozen products will be available at mass merchandisers and supermarkets nationwide and on the Imuraya Web Shop. Chilled products will be available only in Tokai, Hokuriku, Kansai, Chugoku-Shikoku, and Nagano prefectures. Don't miss them when you find them in supermarkets and mass merchandisers! The "4-pack manju series" has also been renewed and will be available from August 5, 2024 (Monday), so be sure to check it out as well.
Also, from August 1, 2024 (Thu) to March 31, 2025 (Mon), the "Imuraya Nekiman Anman ManyThanks Campaign" is underway. By collecting and entering the campaign, you can win a JCB gift card, an assortment of Imuraya products, and an "Erabelle Pay" (a special offer), so be sure to participate in the campaign by purchasing the campaign's target products! For details of the campaign, please check the Imuraya campaign website.