The Challenges Faced on the Wagashi Production Floor and the Potential of Mix Powders
On the wagashi production floor, labor shortages and rising material costs have become serious problems.
Traditional handmade production has been supported by the skill and experience of artisans. However, as skilled artisans age, passing on their techniques is becoming difficult. In addition, rising raw material prices are making management of production costs increasingly severe.
For these challenges, wagashi production mix powders can be an effective solution.
Mix powders have the necessary raw materials pre-blended, greatly simplifying the production process. Products that make it easy to produce warabi-mochi, mizu-manju, kuzu-mochi, and the like have also appeared, achieving both shorter work times and stabilized quality at the same time.
Three Concrete Benefits of Introducing Mix Powders
Major Reduction in Work Time and Improved Productivity
The greatest benefit of mix powders is the simplification of the production process.
従来の製法では、複数の原材料を計量し、適切な順序で混ぜ合わせる必要がありました。この工程だけでも相当な時間を要し、計量ミスが品質のばらつきにつながることもあります。美濃与の友シリーズのようなミックス粉なら、水と砂糖を加えて加熱すれば生地ができます。
Achieving Uniform Quality and Stable Supply
In handmade production, product quality can vary depending on the artisan's skill, physical condition, and working environment.
ミックス粉は配合があらかじめ決まっているため、計量の手間とばらつきを減らせます。
Choosing mix powders produced in factories that have obtained international food safety certifications such as FSSC 22000 and ISO 22000 also provides peace of mind in terms of hygiene management.
Optimizing Cost Management and Reducing Waste Loss
Compared to purchasing raw materials individually, mix powders make inventory management easier.
There is no longer a need to store multiple raw materials separately, which also helps reduce storage space. Also, because you can use only the required amount, you can keep raw material waste loss to a minimum. Managing best-before dates is also centralized, contributing to improved inventory turnover.
The effect of reducing labor costs is also not to be overlooked. Simplifying the production process reduces the number of personnel needed, achieving greater efficiency in production costs.
作りたい菓子からミックス粉を選ぶ
水と砂糖で生地ができる友シリーズ7品
ミックス粉は、作る和菓子ごとに製品が分かれています。
美濃与の友シリーズでは、蕨菓子の友・葛菓子の友・水まんじゅうの友・新葛もちの友・葛ようかんの友・蓮粉の友・京・蕨水菓の友の7品がミックス粉です。水と砂糖を加えて加熱すれば生地ができ、素材を加えたアレンジもできます。
求める食感や風味から逆算して、ミックス粉を選んでください。
蒸しようかんの友は餡・寒天と合わせて使う
蒸しようかんの友は、こし餡・寒天と併用する配合用原料です。単体で生地ができるほかの7品とは使い方が異なるため、餡と寒天の手配もあわせて検討してください。
Blending Arrangement Techniques for Keeping Originality
Adding Your Own Ingredients to a Base Mix
Even when using mix powders, there is no need to lose originality.
By adding your own unique ingredients to a base mix powder, you can differentiate yourself from other shops. Adding kinako (roasted soybean flour) made by roasting domestic soybeans in-house increases the savory aroma and flavor. Mixing in locally produced chestnut paste or kanro-ni lets you develop products with a regional character.
Adding the right amount of flavor ingredients such as matcha, black sesame, and yuzu lets you build a product lineup with a sense of season.
Adjusting Texture Through Water Content and Temperature Control
The basic method of using mix powders is set, but by finely adjusting the water content you can change the texture.
水分を少なめにすれば、しっかりとした食感に仕上がります。逆に水分を多めにすれば、柔らかくしっとりとした食感になります。加熱が足りないと狙った食感が出ないため、試作で決めた加熱時間と温度は商品ごとに固定しておきます。蒸練機を使う場合も、決めた蒸し時間・温度・湿度を工程書に残してください。
It is important to repeat trial batches many times until you find the texture your company considers ideal.
The Importance of Hygiene Management and Quality Assurance
FSSC22000認証工場の製品を選ぶときに確かめること
FSSC22000は、GFSI（世界食品安全イニシアチブ）が承認する食品安全マネジメントシステムの認証スキームの一つです。
FSSC22000の認証工場では、原材料の受け入れから出荷までの衛生管理の仕組みが第三者の審査を受けています。仕入れ先を選ぶときは、製造工場の認証の有無と、認証範囲に該当製品のラインが含まれているかを確認してください。
Ensuring Traceability and Record Management
Recording data at each stage of the manufacturing process is the foundation of quality control.
その製品が「いつ、どこで、だれによって作られたのか」を管理することで、万が一の品質問題発生時にも迅速な対応が可能となります。ミックス粉を使用する場合でも、使用したロット番号や製造日時を記録しておけば、問題が起きたときに原料までさかのぼれます。信頼性の高いサプライヤーから仕入れることで、原材料レベルからのトレーサビリティも実現できるでしょう。
Summary
Mix powders for wagashi manufacturing are an effective tool that preserves the strengths of traditional handwork while solving the challenges faced by today's production sites.
作業時間の短縮、品質の均一化、コスト管理の最適化といった具体的なメリットを享受しながら、独自素材の追加や配合調整により、オリジナリティを保つことも可能です。
By choosing products manufactured at factories with international certifications such as FSSC 22000, you can build a production system that provides peace of mind in terms of hygiene management as well.
和菓子製造の効率化と品質向上を目指すなら、Minoyoにご相談ください。友シリーズの規格確認やサンプルのご請求は、お問い合わせから承っています。
📦 Related Minoyo Products
Please feel free to consult us about commercial procurement and sample requests
美濃与は京都に拠点を置く京菓子原材料の専門商社です。本記事で取り上げた原料の業務用調達や、お試しサンプル、ロット・規格のご相談など、和菓子製造の現場に寄り添った提案を行っています。
For Minoyo's business and strengths, please see Our Business & Why We Are Chosen . For the actual flow of doing business, see Ordering Process & How to Order; for questions, we have compiled them at Frequently Asked Questions . For individual consultations, please use Contact or material download to get in touch.
