Why "Piyorin," a chick-shaped confection available only in Nagoya, is a hot topic

There's something of a buzz around "Piyorin," a new soft and fluffy sweet that uses eggs from the Nagoya Cochin, the queen of Japanese free-range chickens. What's the reason?

Nagoya, about 1 hour and 40 minutes away from Tokyo by Shinkansen bullet train, is a large city known not only for Nagoya Castle and other sightseeing spots, but also for its unique cuisine known as "Nagoya-meshi," which includes breaded pork cutlet with miso.

One such new culinary trend in Nagoya is "Piyorin," which is drawing a lot of attention. Popular for its cute chick-themed appearance, people queue out the door when Piyorin is on sale. The pudding, made with eggs from Nagoya Cochin, Aichi Prefecture's specialty chicken, is wrapped in bavarois and covered with sponge cake crumbs, and each piece takes seven hours to make by hand. Sweets lovers will also appreciate the special feeling of being able to purchase these confections only in Nagoya instead of by mail order.

Because they are handmade, they have slightly different expressions. Piyorin / Tax-included price ¥420 (JR Tokai Food Service)

Many people may find it too cute to eat, but we recommend taking a decisive bite from the back and enjoying the harmony of the pudding and bavarois. In addition to the strawberry and chocolate versions, don't miss the time-limited Piyorin that appear during seasonal events such as Christmas and New Year's.

Take a big bite and enjoy the taste!

Santa Piyorin / Tax-included price ¥600 (JR Tokai Food Service)

Despite its very cute appearance, Piyorin is very difficult to transport because its jiggly and fluffy nature makes it susceptible to heat and shaking. In recent years, a new social media trend has emerged: the "Piyorin Challenge," in which people try to see if they can bring a Piyorin home undamaged. If you search using the hashtag "#ぴよりんチャレンジ(#piyorinchallenge)," you will see a variety of attempts, including those that succeeded and those whose Piyorin failed and crumbled. If you're feeling confident, try the "Piyorin Challenge" for yourself by getting a Piyorin for takeout at the Piyorin Station Café Gentiane in JR Nagoya Station.

Not only you can get a Piyorin for takeout, but also can eat a Piyorin parfait at the cafe.

The affiliate store "Piyorin Shop," also located in JR Nagoya Station, sells plush toys of Piyorin and other goods.

■DATA Piyon STATION Café Gentiane Address: Nagoya Chuo-dori, JR Nagoya Station, 1-1-4 Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Opening hours: 7:00-22:00(L.O.21:30) Open 365days Piyorin shop Address: Nagoya Umaimon-dori Hirokoji-guchi, JR Nagoya Station, 1-1-4 Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Opening hours: 10:00 - 20:00 Open 365days TEL: 052-533-6001 Official website: https://piyorin.com/ Piyorin MARKET (pick-up reservation website): https://market.jr-central.co.jp/shop/e/epiyoyaku/ (Information as of November 2023)