While salted caramel chocolates and sweets have become hugely popular recently, Häagen-Dazs is taking things in a different direction by adding salted caramel ribbons in vanilla ice cream instead, which is a first for the company.

The “Black Syrup Kinako Adzuki” ice cream features the flavors of bittersweet brown sugar syrup, toasted soybean flour, and adzuki red beans.

The beautifully glossy sauce is made with kinako (toasted soybean flour) and has a thick, jelly-like texture. Underneath the sweet and nutty glaze lies a thick layer of creamy vanilla ice cream. Further down, beneath the top two layers, is a base filled with jewel-like whole adzuki red beans, which bring an earthy taste and chewy texture to the dish.

The Salty Vanilla and Caramel ice cream retails for ¥272 (US$2.60) and is currently available at convenience stores and supermarkets around the country, while the Japonais Black Syrup Kinako Red Bean dessert is sold exclusively at 7-Eleven convenience stores for ¥360 (US$3.50).

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