I’d like to introduce Trappist Cookies. They are made at the Trappist Monastery, which is located on a hill overlooking the Tsugaru Strait in Tobetsu, just to the south-west of Hakodate. The monastery produces rare fermented butter by its own processing methods, which is used to make the cookies.

In 1903, French monks and Japanese monks worked together to develop the fermented butter, and in 1936, they started to make the cookies. Currently, 35 monks are divided into groups to make the butter and the cookies.

The Monastery begins by making butter from fresh cream produced in Hokkaido. One kilogram of cream yields only 400 grams of fermented butter, which is kneaded into the cookie dough. The butter helps give the cookies their wonderful texture.

The recipe has remained unchanged for many years - would you be interested in trying one?

Various souvenir shops in Hakodate have Trappist Cookies. You can also get them at the monastery.

They come in seven packages. A large can of 60 packs is 2,800 yen. A medium can of 36 packs is 1,700 yen. A small can of 23 packs is 1,200 yen. A large gift box of 36 packs is 1,600 yen. A medium gift box of 24 packs is 1,100 yen. A small gift box of 12 packs is 570 yen. A polyester package of 8 packs is 400 yen. Note that the prices are pretax prices (add 5%) and one pack contains 3 cookies.  

Written by an office worker from Hakodate in his 30s,

Posted on 2009/02/02

This information is subject to change without notice.