Fruit Blog

No one loves strawberries quite like the Japanese. Originally brought to Japan by the Dutch in the 1800s, modern-day Japanese people love adding strawberries to everything from Christmas cakes to traditional Japanese sweets like daifuku. This love of this incredibly special fruit has created a unique culture around strawberries rarely experienced by those outside Japan. Major differences between American and Japanese strawberries are in everything from the taste and appearance, to its cultivation method. Each of these aspects of Japanese strawberries is carefully monitored to ensure only the cream of the crop makes it to market. These differences are what...

High quality fruits like those produced by Ikigai Fruits may seem too good to be true. It might have you thinking: were these fruits genetically modified to be this big, this juicy, or this packed with flavor? Rest assured that there is nothing genetically modified about any of the fruits featured on Ikigai Fruits. We sell exclusively non-GMO produce, meticulously grown in the rural hills of Japan, where they are cultivated by farmers who have honed their craft for hundreds of years.  Let’s be clear: Fruits available for purchase from Ikigai Fruits are all non-GMO. They have not been genetically...

Introduction In the secluded hills of Shizuoka Prefecture, dedicated farmers have grown Crown Melons for over 100 years, with only the most exquisite specimens ever making it to market. Every melon is precisely measured, thoroughly massaged, and deftly harvested by human hands year round. Also known as the “king” of Japanese fruits, Crown Melons have captured the hearts of gormets and culinary experts around the world. With Ikigai Fruits, this elusive Japanese delicacy is finally available to be delivered right to your door. But what exactly makes a Crown Melon so special? We found the most common Crown Melon questions...

Photo courtesy of Momoya SoHo Have you ever had a dessert parfait made with Japanese luxury fruits? Parfaits are a rare delicacy in most American dining experiences, but they’re a staple in Japanese dessert culture. Recently, Ikigai Fruits partnered with Momoya SoHo, a popular Japanese establishment in New York City, and Executive Pastry Chef Norie Uematsu to turn our best-selling fruit into dramatic parfaits constructed with meticulous dedication. History of Japanese and American Parfaits Photo courtesy of Momoya SoHo Parfaits originated in France in the late 1800s. The word “parfait” is French for “perfect”1. The original dessert was made with...