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Japan Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Mister Donut's New Home Cut doughnuts take nostalgia to extremes with barely any sweetness
By Oona McGee, SoraNews24 Mister Donut is known for its limited-edition collaborations with famous big names like Gion Tsujiri, Pokémon, and Disney, but recently it's been wowing customers with completely new types of doughnuts. Now, following on from the explosive popularity of the ultra-soft 'Mocchurin' series released this past June, the chain is giving us another original doughnut developed in-house, and it's called the 'New Home Cut.' According to Mister Donut, this new series is reminiscent of the 'Home Cut' doughnut sold in Japan when the company first opened its doors here 55 years ago. The 'New Home Cut' is an evolution of that doughnut from the founding era, and there are six varieties to choose from. ▼ Original (Takeout 183 yen/Eat-in 187 yen) ▼ Honey (Takeout 183 yen /Eat-in 187 yen) ▼ Cinnamon (Takeout 183 yen /Eat-in 187 yen) ▼ Maple (Takeout 194 yen /Eat-in 198 yen) ▼ Butter Crunch (Takeout 205 yen /Eat-in 209 yen) As for the sixth doughnut, the An Butter (Takeout 226 yen /Eat-in 231 yen), unfortunately that had sold out when we visited to try the series, suggesting that might just be the most popular flavor of them all. Still, with the focus being on texture — the mouthfeel is said to centre around a fluffy, moist dough with the aroma of egg and vanilla — we didn't feel like we were missing out, and when we ripped into the doughnuts, we could see what made them so special. Our immediate impression was of an old-timey classic doughnut, but when we bit into them, our surprise grew. Not only did they have a light yet chewy texture that was different to what we're used to getting at the chain, but they were barely sweet. In fact, we'd go so far as to say they weren't sweet at all — if you were to rate the chain's regular Old Fashioned doughnut as a 10 on sweetness, the New Home Cut would barely make a blip at 1 or 2 on that scale. This barely sweet base meant that even the cinnamon and glazed varieties felt subdued in sweetness, yet there was something innately appealing about their understated charms. Each bite took us back to the days when our taste buds were able to ease into a flavor like an adventure that slowly revealed itself, instead of being assaulted from the get-go by overly sweet and salty ingredients. Our taste buds loved taking this journey back in time to a simpler, quieter period, and although the plainness of the range might lead some customers to liken these to soft breads instead of doughnuts, we like to see it as the embodiment of decades of experience, where one can learn from the old to create the new. The range is familiar yet surprising, which is what we like in a sweet treat, and they'll be on the menu for roughly six months, until late February 2026, so you'll have plenty of time to try them. Photos ©SoraNews24 Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Donuts beyond mochi mochi: Mister Donut's new donuts are so soft they're almost drinkable -- Mister Donut releases new Uji Matcha doughnut with Gion Tsujiri -- Pokémon doughnuts appear at Mister Donut, with Diglett as the star! External Link © SoraNews24
SoraNews24
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Mister Donut's New Home Cut doughnuts take nostalgia to extremes with barely any sweetness
New take on a '70s classic will have you questioning the line between plain bread and doughnut. Mister Donut is known for its limited-edition collaborations with famous big names like Gion Tsujiri, Pokémon, and Disney, but recently it's been wowing customers with completely new types of doughnuts. Now, following on from the explosive popularity of the ultra-soft 'Mocchurin' series released this past June, the chain is giving us another original doughnut developed in-house, and it's called the 'New Home Cut'. According to Mister Donut, this new series is reminiscent of the 'Home Cut' doughnut sold in Japan when the company first opened its doors here 55 years ago. The 'New Home Cut' is an evolution of that doughnut from the founding era, and there are six varieties to choose from. ▼ Original (Takeout 183 yen [US$1.24]/Eat-in 187 yen) ▼ Honey (Takeout 183 yen /Eat-in 187 yen) ▼ Cinnamon (Takeout 183 yen /Eat-in 187 yen) ▼ Maple (Takeout 194 yen /Eat-in 198 yen) ▼ Butter Crunch (Takeout 205 yen /Eat-in 209 yen) As for the sixth doughnut, the An Butter (Takeout 226 yen /Eat-in 231 yen), unfortunately that had sold out when we visited to try the series, suggesting that might just be the most popular flavour of them all. Still, with the focus being on texture — the mouthfeel is said to centre around a fluffy, moist dough with the aroma of egg and vanilla — we didn't feel like we were missing out, and when we ripped into the doughnuts, we could see what made them so special. Our immediate impression was of an old-timey classic doughnut, but when we bit into them, our surprise grew. Not only did they have a light yet chewy texture that was different to what we're used to getting at the chain, but they were barely sweet. In fact, we'd go so far as to say they weren't sweet at all — if you were to rate the chain's regular Old Fashioned doughnut as a 10 on sweetness, the New Home Cut would barely make a blip at 1 or 2 on that scale. This barely sweet base meant that even the cinnamon and glazed varieties felt subdued in sweetness, yet there was something innately appealing about their understated charms. Each bite took us back to the days when our taste buds were able to ease into a flavour like an adventure that slowly revealed itself, instead of being assaulted from the get-go by overly sweet and salty ingredients. Our taste buds loved taking this journey back in time to a simpler, quieter period, and although the plainness of the range might lead some customers to liken these to soft breads instead of doughnuts, we like to see it as the embodiment of decades of experience, where one can learn from the old to create the new. The range is familiar yet surprising, which is what we like in a sweet treat, and they'll be on the menu for roughly six months, until late February 2026, so you'll have plenty of time to try them. Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
Japan Today
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Mister Donut and Gion Tsujiri bring hojicha heaven to Japan with these latest additions
By Elliot Hale, SoraNews24 Following rave reviews of the last installment of the dream collaboration of international donut chain Mister Donut and famous green tea specialists Gion Tsujiri, the second batch of this year's springtime tea-filled delights have arrived and made their way to our office for another donut review. Time and time again, this collaboration proves to be sublime, so what temptations does Mister Donut have in store for us this time round? The first set of donuts focused on matcha, but these two latest ones are all about hojicha (roasted green tea), and cost 270 yen to take-out, or 275 yen to eat-in. ● Uji Hojicha Hojicha Choco Azuki The first one has a name that's quite a mouthful. Uji Hojicha is a reasonable addition to the name of the product, being the name of the series and indicating that the hojicha it uses comes from the popular tea region of Uji in Kyoto. However, the latter half of the name feels as if the makers have just thought about what would be delicious together and threw it all together into the name itself. This simplistic yet clear naming resulted in the Hojicha Choco Azuki: a fusion of hojicha, chocolate and sweet red beans. The appearance is striking, looking as if it's covered in brown scales, or perhaps as if it's a raw mineral deposit. The chocolate shavings appeared to be glued onto the donut through the use of red bean paste. While clearly being integral to the structure of the donut, the azuki paste still plays an essential role in the overall flavor. Taking a bite, the first thing that hits you is the overwhelming deliciousness of the dough: the crisp dough crumbles easily in your mouth, making for an enjoyable eating experience. The bitter hint of the hojicha is outstandingly elegant. The dough by itself deserves to be a regular feature on their menu year-round. Both the chocolate and azuki toppings deliver a sweetness to the package, but each in their own way. Adding the textural combination of the soft paste and the hard chocolate really serves to elevate the quality of the donut to a new level. ● Uji Hojicha-zukushi With a name translating loosely to 'as much hojicha as posible,' we were expecting this next donut to be overflowing with it, and were not disappointed. Both the dough and the cream on top are entirely hojicha-flavored. Just the harmonious pairing of dry and crispy dough with the thick, soft cream is enough to make hojicha enthusiasts drool, but add in a sprinkling of hojicha soybean flour and you're hurled mouth-first into hojicha heaven. That's not everything this donut has to offer, though. Drizzling on the accompanying brown sugar syrup gives the donut a whole new layer of charm and the Japanese-ness of the flavor is accentuated even further. However, the second round of donuts doesn't end there. What we had failed to realize before rushing down to the store to pick up the latest donuts was that there was a third option to be found, which is only available through online ordering. Image: PR Times The Pon De Uji Matcha Deluxe Quintet (388 yen) is a donut designed to induce a matcha-overdose, with possibly the highest levels of matcha since the Mister Donut-Gion Tsujiri collaboration began. The matcha dough is coated with matcha-flavored chocolate, the two fillings are matcha whipped cream and matcha warabimochi (a jelly-like dessert with roasted soybean flour and brown sugar syrup), and finished off with a dusting of matcha powder. If the first collection of matcha donuts left you feeling wanting for more matcha, prepare to be conquered by this latest addition to the range. Just remember you need to order online a day in advance. With limited-time availability until the end of May, these three donuts, along with the original set, are not to be missed by fans of Japanese flavors. Related: Mister Donut Photos ©SoraNews24 (unless otherwise marked) Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Mister Donut teams up with Gion Tsujiri again, this time with Uji Matcha and Uji Hojicha flavors -- Mister Donut releases new Uji Matcha doughnut with Gion Tsujiri -- We try the four new offerings in the Mister Donut x Gion Tsujiri collaboration series【Taste test】 External Link © SoraNews24
SoraNews24
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Mister Donut and Gion Tsujiri bring hojicha heaven to Japan with these latest additions
Plus a surprise donut for matcha-maniacs, but only if you remember to order it online. Following rave reviews of the last instalment of the dream collaboration of international donut chain Mister Donut and famous green tea specialists Gion Tsujiri, the second batch of this year's springtime tea-filled delights have arrived and made their way to our office for another donut review. Time and time again, this collaboration proves to be sublime, so what temptations does Mister Donut have in store for us this time round? The first set of donuts focused on matcha, but these two latest ones are all about hojicha (roasted green tea), and cost 270 yen (US$1.89) to take-out, or 275 yen to eat-in. ● Uji Hojicha Hojicha Choco Azuki The first one has a name that's quite a mouthful. Uji Hojicha is a reasonable addition to the name of the product, being the name of the series and indicating that the hojicha it uses comes from the popular tea region of Uji in Kyoto. However, the latter half of the name feels as if the makers have just thought about what would be delicious together and threw it all together into the name itself. This simplistic yet clear naming resulted in the Hojicha Choco Azuki: a fusion of hojicha, chocolate and sweet red beans. The appearance is striking, looking as if it's covered in brown scales, or perhaps as if it's a raw mineral deposit. The chocolate shavings appeared to be glued onto the donut through the use of red bean paste. While clearly being integral to the structure of the donut, the azuki paste still plays an essential role in the overall flavor. Taking a bite, the first thing that hits you is the overwhelming deliciousness of the dough: the crisp dough crumbles easily in your mouth, making for an enjoyable eating experience. The bitter hint of the hojicha is outstandingly elegant. The dough by itself deserves to be a regular feature on their menu year-round. Both the chocolate and azuki toppings deliver a sweetness to the package, but each in their own way. Adding the textural combination of the soft paste and the hard chocolate really serves to elevate the quality of the donut to a new level. ● Uji Hojicha-zukushi With a name translating loosely to 'as much hojicha as posible,' we were expecting this next donut to be overflowing with it, and were not disappointed. Both the dough and the cream on top are entirely hojicha-flavored. Just the harmonious pairing of dry and crispy dough with the thick, soft cream is enough to make hojicha enthusiasts drool, but add in a sprinkling of hojicha soybean flour and you're hurled mouth-first into hojicha heaven. That's not everything this donut has to offer, though. Drizzling on the accompanying brown sugar syrup gives the donut a whole new layer of charm and the Japanese-ness of the flavor is accentuated even further. However, the second round of donuts doesn't end there. What we had failed to realize before rushing down to the store to pick up the latest donuts was that there was a third option to be found, which is only available through online ordering. Source: PR Times The Pon De Uji Matcha Deluxe Quintet (388 yen) is a donut designed to induce a matcha-overdose, with possibly the highest levels of matcha since the Mister Donut-Gion Tsujiri collaboration began. The matcha dough is coated with matcha-flavored chocolate, the two fillings are matcha whipped cream and matcha warabimochi (a jelly-like dessert with roasted soybean flour and brown sugar syrup), and finished off with a dusting of matcha powder. If the first collection of matcha donuts left you feeling wanting for more matcha, prepare to be conquered by this latest addition to the range. Just remember you need to order online a day in advance. With limited-time availability until the end of May, these three donuts, along with the original set, are not to be missed by fans of Japanese flavors. Related: Mister Donut Photos ©SoraNews24 (unless otherwise marked) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
