Venture a lil into the outskirts Japan's cities and you will be rewarded with the prettiest and cutest donuts in various animal forms that changes with the seasons. The store name Floresta is a word with Portuguese origins, meaning 'Forest'. It is the aim of Floresta Nature to create fresh donuts using domestic and organic ingredients free of additives, while being gentle to the environment by using less packaging in their products.
The Floresta Nature stores usually have a small shop front with a large glass panel overlooking its kitchen so that customers are able to see the donuts being freshly prepared. I love its wooden interior furnishings, little ornaments displayed and cosy vibes it gives off. The stores gives off the feeling of 'being in sync with nature' vibes.
If I didn't remember wrongly, this was one of my first encounters with the donuts from the Floresta Nature store in the outskirts of Tokyo. As it was year-end, and the year of the Rooster was approaching, they had cute hatched chicks donuts to usher in the year of 2017.
This was my return trip to Japan where we visited the Kansai region. I loved the donuts so much that I even did a bear and chick donut nail art manicure prior to the trip. I have to buy every animal donut available in the stores when I see them because:
a) I've already travelled the distance in search of the stores (they are not located in the most central places)
b) It makes perfect sense to buy everything cos not only do they look cute and great for photos, I have to try all their different yummy flavours too
The grey speckled seal is goma flavoured (black sesame) which was really aromatic. The kitten was coffee-flavoured while the pig was strawberry-flavoured.
Described by Floresta as 'guilt-free' donuts, these are not the usual light airy American donuts. They have a drier and denser cake-like texture (not in a bad way). You can also taste the subtle fragrance of the beans used in the flour.
Little details like the crunchy 'ears' on the donuts sweeten the deal further. They are actually roasted almonds hidden beneath the icing. The donuts typically cost between 180-300 yen, depending on the flavours and complexity of the animals.
Don't they bring a smile to your face? I love everything about them from their cute looks to their delicious taste that's perfect for an afternoon snack. The photos taken above were from their Oita store located in the Kyushu region.
The owners of Floresta Nature opened their first outlet in Nara, with the intention to share the joy of tasting handmade snacks and letting people especially children have a peace of mind while enjoying the donuts. The store prides itself on its environmentally friendly philosophy and for being a warm and cheerful place that serves its customers with donuts lovingly handmade in small batches everyday.
The animal donuts are a major drawcard for people like me to hunt down down the stores just for the donuts. They are pretty much the cutest looking donuts that exist and it is an awesome feeling to be able to get these rustic tasting donuts that gives you a feeling of being connected to nature.
While the stores may take some time to find, it's worth travelling the distance for them. The Nature Floresta stores is something that I always look forward to in my trips to Japan. There are still many flavours and characters waiting for us to explore in their other outlets!
Floresta Nature
Opening Hours: Refer to the store guide, as they have different opening hours :)
Japan