I very much enjoy the cookie called langue de chat, literally “tongue of cat”. It originated in France but has proven itself to be quite popular in Japan. We can observe this because many tourist attractions and towns have their own version of it. The Japanese versions are commonly not shaped like a cat’s tongue but are more like a square sandwich with filling.
In 2023, I purchased these langue de chat from these places:
The Famous Hokkaido-Exclusive Langue de Chat
As far as I know, the famous Shiroi Koibito chocolat blanc et langue de chat from Ishiya (“ISHIYA GUARANTEED”, it literally says on the box.) is purchased only in Hokkaido or when departing Japan from the Narita Airport (which is what I did this time). It used to be possible to buy it at some tourist attractions in Tokyo, but that is no longer true.
I was first introduced to this very delicious cookie by my aunt, who used to take a lot of business trips to Japan. We purchased boxes in the early 2010s in Tokyo, Osaka, or Kobe (I forget which one.), so that is how I personally know the region-restricted souvenirs were not always completely region-restricted!
Strawberry Langue De Chat
Maikosan no Koibito is a strawberry langue de chat. I am rather confident that I purchased this in the rather large shopping area of the old-timely Toei Park. The theme of the box is the apprentice geisha, the maiko. The box is attractive and the traditional maiko depicted make it clearly a Japanese souvenir.
Peanuts Langue de Chat
Alternatively, “Peanuts flavor Langue de chat”, as the tin literally says.
Unsurprisingly, the Peanuts flavor Langue de Chat cookie is peanut-flavored. I like it. This can be purchased in a little Peanuts tin decorated with a Snoopy at the Snoopy store in Universal Studios Japan.
Minions Fromage Langue de Chat
This is, as it says right on the wrapper, cheese-flavored langue de chat. The cheese flavor is vaguely like Swiss cheese. I was not terribly fond of this fromage flavor. One of my friends liked that it tasted unique. This can be purchased by the box at Universal Studios Japan.
Fujisan Langue de chat
This basic langue de chat from Fujisan can be purchased at the Hakone Open Air Museum. It is not made by the same company as the most famous version, but I like the taste of this, too! The ratio of cookie to filling seemed slightly different. If I remember correctly, it came in a bag rather than a box.
Fujisan Honey Butter Langue de Chat
This Mount Fuji honey and butter langue de chat won a quality award from Monde Selection, and I can easily taste why. I purchased this at the Hakone Open Air Museum.
Hakone Sanroku Tea langue de chat
I purchased this box of Hakone Sanroku Tea langue de chat at the gift shop at the Hakone Open Air Museum. The filling is flavorful and definitely tastes like royal milk tea. I would eat this one with water; it is rather strong. The expiry date when I purchased in October, 2023, was July 31, 2024, so it makes for a good souvenir!
Ghibli Park langue de chat
The Ghibli Park langue de chat is, unsurprisingly, purchased at the gift shop at Ghibli Park. It was mostly the basic flavor, but more crumbly at the cookie.
Other Flavours (with no pictures)
I forgot to take pictures of some of the other langue de chat I purchased, ate, or saw in 2023:
Pudding langue de chat was available at all the Don Quijote stores I visited. It tasted fine.
A white chocolate langue de chat that was available at Don Quijote tasted not as good.
Matcha langue de chat was available at Don Quijote and in multiple tourist towns. I purchased a box but did not try any this time.
Milk or dark chocolate-filled langue de chat or langue de chat with a dark chocolate-flavour outside and white chocolate inside were available at the Narita airport’s mall area and some tourist towns. I did not purchase any.
A special langue de chat x Godiva collaboration version I had not seen on past trips was available in the upstairs mall of the Narita airport. Everyone who tasted those cookies thought they had excellent flavor. I would have bought more than two boxes if I had known how good they would be! I definitely recommend this flavor.
