Now that spring is in full swing, it’s a good time to kick off a healthier lifestyle–but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to give up on sweets. Honey is a great substitute for sugar, and is rising in popularity recently for its health and medicinal benefits. My Honey, a cafe/honey store which opened in Motomachi this past March, sells organic honey from Hungary, where there are strict regulations for producing high-quality nectar compared to other countries. There are two other My Honey stores in Japan, but the branch in Yokohama is unique as it has ties with local Motomachi hair salon, Terrace Grace. Customers can buy a honey latte (￥600) from the cafe and enjoy it at the salon while getting a luxurious honey hair spa treatment. Besides food products, such as honeyed nuts and chocolate/peanut butter spreads (all naturally sweetened with acacia honey), My Honey is known for its beauty products. The salon owner loves and uses them personally, and that eventually led to this unique partnership.
Located past the cafe Navy 045 in the heart of Motomachi, this charming little store is hard to miss with its twinkling lights hanging from the ceiling, whimsical illustrations and typography which decorate the walls and windows. Just past the cafe is Terrace Grace, a beautiful white building with a dainty porch surrounded by greenery. We tried their Honey Chocolat Sandwich (￥1490 for a 3-pack), which is naturally sweetened with honey, gluten-free and contains no eggs or dairy. The moment you bite into it, you’ll taste the sweet nectar infused in the thick chocolate spread–it’s a subtle sweetness that doesn’t overpower the bitter flavor of cacao. Beautifully wrapped and individually packaged, this is a great gift for friends and family and a delightful treat for those with food allergies. Terrace Grace is looking to collaborate with restaurants/cafes in the Kannai and Noge area for various events in the future. The growing My Honey brand is creating a lot of buzz for its healthy approach to delicious sweets, and is likely to raise more awareness for pure, organic products, which are still scarce in the Japanese market.
