Shuu-cream 

A small, transparent image of a chibified Yukimitsu, gesturing to the image with a pointer and speaking, as if hosting a lecture. A plate of Japanese shuu-cream cream puffs, filled with custard and topped with powdered sugar.

Shuu-cream (シュークリーム) are Japanese cream puffs. Based off the French choux à la crème variety, they’re a highly popular dessert in Japan and are widely available in bakeries, cake shops, restaurants, convenience stores and vending machines. Unlike most conventional cream puffs, shuu-cream are baked large, almost to the size of a gourmet cupcake. Despite this, the dessert itself is very light, with a crisp and crunchy texture on the outside, and creamy filling on the inside.

Shuu-cream are made with choux pastry dough. This type of pastry dough is delicate and airy once baked, which allows for plenty of room for filling. In fact, choux means cabbage in French; it's also used for cream puffs since they resemble cabbages once the dough rises. Traditionally, filling may be either whipped cream or plain custard, but can be a variety of flavors, including chocolate, strawberry, and matcha (green tea). It’s also not unusual top add toppings such as sliced fruits and powdered sugar.

 Relevance to Eyeshield 21 

A transparent image of Mamori happily hugging a giant shuu-cream cream puff.

Mamori Anezaki, Sena’s childhood friend and the Deimon Devil Bats’ team manager, has an obsessive love for shuu-cream. She’s been described as a “cream puff maniac,” and couldn't resist sneaking a bite when the Devil Bats offered shuu-cream and coffee while interviewing potential new players in Chapter 28.

She’s able to eat a frightening amount of them in one sitting—even out-eating Kurita!—and can enthusiastically name every flavor and ingredient of all the different types she’s eaten from the Kariya bakery.



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