Red Bean Paste

Red bean paste is a sweet paste made by boiling and mashing adzuki (also spelled as azuki) beans. The paste is then sweetened with honey or sugar. It is used as a filling for bread, steamed bread, cakes, and dumplings. The adzuki bean originates from China, but it has been introduced to Japan by the Chinese, and is now the sixth largest crop in Japan.

There are two most popular varieties of red bean paste in Japan today: koshian (smooth) and tsubuan (with whole beans). Although red bean paste is most closely associated with Japan, it is also used in Chinese and Korean cuisine, in the preparation of dishes such as mooncakes, baozi, red bean soup, and baram tteok.