Sweet red bean soup with grilled rice cake

Sweet red bean soup, or "anko" in Japanese, is a popular dessert in Japan that has been enjoyed for centuries. The soup is made by boiling adzuki beans with sugar and water until they become soft and sweet, and is then often pureed into a smooth paste. Sweet red bean soup can be served hot or cold and is often enjoyed with mochi, a type of sticky rice cake. The combination of the sweet and slightly nutty flavor of the red beans and the chewy texture of the mochi is a favorite among Japanese dessert lovers. Sweet red bean soup is also a common ingredient in other Japanese desserts, such as dorayaki pancakes and wagashi sweets.