noun
sweet rice jelly; uirō
A traditional Japanese confection made from rice flour and sugar, often flavored with matcha or red bean. Steamed and jelly-like in texture.
名古屋名物のういろうをお土産に買った。
I bought some uirō, a Nagoya specialty, as a souvenir.
ういろうはもちもちした食感が特徴
Uirō is characterized by its chewy texture.
noun
Edo-period herbal medicine; antitussive and breath freshener
Only with reading ういろう
Historical term; originally a medicine imported from China, later produced in Japan. Used for coughs and as a breath freshener. The sweet is said to have been named after this medicine due to a resemblance in shape or color.
江戸時代、ういろうは咳止めや口臭消しとして用いられた。
In the Edo period, uirō was used as a cough medicine and breath freshener.
Rare kanji form; historically associated with the medicine and the sweet, but now almost always written in kana.
Very rare kanji form; it is rarely used.
Yōkan is a similar Japanese sweet made from red bean paste, agar, and sugar, but it is firmer and denser than uirō.
Gyūhi is a softer, mochi-like confection made from glutinous rice flour and sugar, often used as a wrapping for other sweets, while uirō is steamed and has a firmer, jelly-like texture.
The name is said to derive from a Chinese medicine called 'uirō' brought to Japan by a Chinese physician in the 14th century. The sweet was later named after the medicine due to a perceived similarity in appearance. The kanji 外郎 is a phonetic borrowing (ateji) for the Chinese name.