Madame Shinco began as an Osaka coffee shop in 2006. There are a total of three branches, including the Saito Branch (also in Minoh) and the Daimaru Umeda Branch in Osaka City.

I imagined the main branch to be bigger, but it was rather compact. The outer wall has a simple black and white design with pink accents. However, once you step inside, you are greeted by the colorful world of Madame Shinco, decorated with pink, roses, and leopard print patterns!

First, let’s try Madame Shinco’s signature item, the Madame Brûlée. Their most popular item, this cake is caramelized with plenty of maple sugar and French cassonade (brown sugar).

There are three delicious ways to enjoy this. The first method is to have the caramel naturally melt on top at room temperature.

The second is to heat it slightly in the oven for a freshly-baked fluffy texture. The third is to put it in the freezer as soon as you get home, and eat it frozen. The shop owner, Ms. Nagata, confided the last one to me as her secret recommendation.

“It is designed so that even when frozen, it will not harden too much. If you cut and freeze it, you will be able to eat the pieces just like that. It’s especially refreshing to eat chilled on a hot summer day, and tastes even sweeter frozen.” (Nagata)

Ms. Nagata’s shop has it’s very own limited edition Marugoto Whole Baumkuchen (7,000 yen plus tax). It is about 30 cm long! “It’s a real crowd-pleaser that’s great for parties,” says Ms. Nagata.

There is a variety of other limited edition and seasonal Baumkuchen in Osaka, some of which we highly recommend and will introduce below.

The January Birthday Kuchen was covered with strawberries and raspberries. “We want to exceed our customers’ expectations with our creations. We pay special attention to every single detail, and each item is made with feelings of gratitude for each of our happy customers,” says Ms. Nishikoori.

The Seasonal Melted Caramel Cheese Baumkuchen is baked in an oven topped with a half-cooked cheese soufflé, and only available from March 1st to May 31st for White Day (while supplies last). It’s a combination of sweet from the caramel, and salty from the cheese.

Madame Shinco’s cream puffs are also different from those in other shops. This cone-shape pastry is filled with maple custard cream. This item is limited only to the Main Branch and the Saito store, and is only filled with the cream upon order. If you visit the Main Branch, make sure to try one!

The Madame Shinco Main Branch has not only your basic Japanese Baumkuchen but Osaka sweets and various other arrangements that may vary according to event and season. Because of this, there is the excitement of knowing that there will always be something new to try whenever you visit.

Right next to the shopping area is a coffee shop where you can enjoy a freshly made, caramelized Madame Brûlée Set.

The Madame Brûlée Set (1,100 yen plus tax) is a set of freshly baked Madame Brulee with two daily sweets and a drink of your choice. The final touch, the caramelization, is done by the patisserie in front of the customers. This performance can only be seen at the Minoh Main Branch! Today, Ms. Fuku is in charge.

Here comes the Madame Brûlée on a wagon!

A leopard-print burner is revealed, and the fire is lit right away

Time to dig in! After only a short amount of time, the caramel has already become crisp.

“Here goes my first bite!” The two contrasting textures, crisp and fluffy, make an enjoyable taste. The bittersweet caramel is perfectly compatible with the nostalgic taste of the Japanese Baumkuchen. It’s simple and delicious, and tastes just like grandma used to make. You can top it with maple syrup if you like.

The Earl Gray mousse selected as one of today’s daily sweets is filled with raspberry jelly and chocolate mousse. The slightly sour taste of the raspberries and the sweetness of the chocolate go together perfectly with the Earl Gray flavor. The chocolate cake is also simple and delicious.

“It’s really encouraging to hear customers of the coffee shop say how delicious it was, or to see people buy from the shop so they can bring it home to share with their families. It makes me really happy, to think how deliciously served it must have been.” (Patisserie Fuku)

There are many other delicious menu items such as the Cake Set, French Baum Set, and Madame’s Fondant Set. Please try them in the coffee shop!

Madame Shinko is the name of the current president of the company. She simply uses her own name as her brand name.

President Shinko once ran a club in Ginza. When the economic bubble burst, she returned home to Osaka and opened a barbecue restaurant, however it was later destroyed in a fire. She was feeling at a loss, when one day a magazine ad recruiting Japanese cafe franchises caught her eye. It was then that she entered the world of sweets with a feeling of desperation.

In 2006, she began to make and sell Baumkuchen in Osaka by hand, and by 2007, her signature Madam Brûlée was complete. “Because Baumkuchen brûlées were becoming popular, Madame Brûlée was a big hit! It even because a popular mail-order item. I am often advised to come out with a second item following Madame Brûlée, however, it is all thanks to Madame Brûlée that Madame Shinco even exists to this day. I will continue to regard it as such,” she says.

“I experienced many hardships and frustrations. I am extremely grateful to all the customers who visit my shop, and it makes me so happy to see people walking around the city with Madame Shinco paper bags in their hands.” (Madame Shinko)

President Shinko also does writing and illustration, and even worked on the interior decoration of the shop. You can really feel the amount of planning and conviction that went into this shop, bringing it to life.

Even though it is an Osaka sweets shop, the Madame Shinco Main Branch has so much energy, it makes you want to do your best and work hard, too! If you get the chance, please make sure to come and try these delicious sweets, especially the Madame Brûlée which was birthed by President Shinko herself.