甘納豆(あまなっとう)

あまなっとう
noun
sweetened beans; sugared beans
foodculture
1. sweetened beans; sugar-coated beans
A traditional Japanese confection made by simmering beans (typically azuki, kidney beans, or other varieties) in sugar syrup and then coating them with crystallized sugar.
甘納豆(あまなっとう)をお茶請(ちゃう)けにする。
To have sweetened beans as a tea snack.
祖母(そぼ)は甘納豆(あまなっとう)が大好(だいす)きだ。
My grandmother loves sweetened beans.
北海道(ほっかいどう)では赤飯(せきはん)に甘納豆(あまなっとう)を入(い)れる地域(ちいき)がある。
In Hokkaido, there are areas where sweetened beans are added to sekihan (red rice).

Composed of 甘(あま) (sweet) + 納豆(なっとう) (natto). Despite sharing the name 納豆(なっとう), this confection has no relation to fermented soybeans. The name is thought to come from the similar appearance of the sugar-dusted beans to 納豆(なっとう).

Types

  • 小豆(あずき)の甘納豆(あまなっとう): azuki bean version (most common)
  • 金時(きんとき)豆(まめ)の甘納豆(あまなっとう): kidney bean version
  • 黒豆(くろまめ)の甘納豆(あまなっとう): black bean version

Cultural note

In 北海道(ほっかいどう), 甘納豆(あまなっとう) is famously used instead of 小豆(あずき) in 赤飯(せきはん) (celebratory red rice), creating a sweeter version that surprises visitors from other regions.

Related words

  • 和菓子(わがし): Japanese confections — the broader category
  • 納豆(なっとう): fermented soybeans — unrelated despite the shared name
  • 煮豆(にまめ): simmered beans — a savory preparation of beans

Related Words

Related: 和菓子(わがし) (Japanese confections)
general
Added 2026.3.31 5:16 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
20500/20918_amanattou