Milk Caramel Day (Miruku Kyarameru no Hi)

What Is Milk Caramel Day?

June 10th is "Milk Caramel Day" in Japan. Morinaga & Co. named it as a day to share fond memories over milk caramels. The date comes from the fact that on this day in 1913 (Taisho 2), the product the company had sold simply as "caramel" since its founding in 1899 was given the name "Milk" for the first time. It's a day to enjoy once again a flavor that has been loved for more than 100 years.

The History of Milk Caramel

Morinaga's founder, Taichiro Morinaga, learned confectionery-making in the United States and, after returning to Japan, opened the Morinaga Western Confectionery Factory in Akasaka, Tokyo, in 1899. Caramels were made from the very beginning.

• Sold loose at first: Caramels were originally sold loose by the piece or in tins. Even when the product was renamed "Milk Caramel" in 1913, it was still sold loose.
• The yellow box appears: In 1914 (Taisho 3), a portable paper-carton version (20 pieces for 10 sen) went on sale, becoming the prototype of today's yellow box.
• "Rich in nourishment": The package carried the words "滋養豊富 風味絶佳" ("rich in nourishment, superb in flavor"), and the candy was also valued as a nourishing treat.

The Yellow Box That Has Hardly Changed

While it has been updated in small ways, the basic design of the Morinaga Milk Caramel yellow box has been carried on for a very long time. The "Angel Mark" printed on the box has also changed little by little over the years, and Morinaga's official website presents its evolution in a historical timeline.

Fun Facts About Caramel

• Caramel's color and aroma: Caramel's brown color and toasty flavor come from reactions that occur when sugar and milk are heated — the reaction between sugars and amino acids (the Maillard reaction) and the browning of sugar itself (caramelization).
• Changing prices: According to Morinaga's timeline, the 1914 paper-carton version contained 20 pieces for 10 sen. The number of pieces and the price have changed many times since.
• "300 meters per piece" is a different company: The famous slogan "300 meters on one piece" belongs to Ezaki Glico's "Glico" caramel, a different product from Morinaga Milk Caramel.
• A secret ingredient in cooking: The richness and sweetness of caramel are sometimes used as a secret ingredient in curry and stews.

Ideas for Milk Caramel Day

• Take a break from work or study and slowly savor a milk caramel.
• Use the yellow box as a conversation starter to share childhood memories with family or coworkers.
• Browse Morinaga's historical timeline to see how the package and Angel Mark have changed.
• Try a recipe for sweets or dishes that use caramel.

More Than 100 Years of Memories in a Small Yellow Box

Milk Caramel Day on June 10th is a day to enjoy a candy loved across generations, from the Meiji era to the Reiwa era, while sharing fond memories. Why not take a short break today with a caramel in hand?