北海道的飲食文化（甜點）/ Food Culture in Hokkaido (Sweets)

在日本，北海道作為產有豐富的新鮮蔬菜、肉類、魚類的糧食生產區而著名。此外，製作甜點原料的奶油、牛奶、優格、起司等乳製品、麵粉、豆類也在這裏被大量生產和收穫。在這樣的環境背景下，造就了甜點製造產業的成長。在北海道內的各個都市有許多企業或店家製作獨有的點心。

Hokkaido is recognized as Japan’s food mecca among Japanese people because a lot of vegetables, meats and fish are grown, raised or caught here. Moreover, a lot of dairy products such as butter, milk, yogurt and cheese are produced, as well as wheat, flour, and beans. These are all ingredients needed to make sweets. As a result of this happy marriage of resources, many types of confectionery are made in Hokkaido, and it has become a big industry. Many companies and shops produce their own sweets and some are very popular for souvenirs among tourists. Both Japanese style and Western style sweets are made, and sometimes both styles meet in the same product.