ARE you a lover of sweet treats who wants to try something different to tickle your tastebuds?

Then Sancha, our Trader of the Week, is the perfect solution for your sweet tooth.

Sancha is based in Westbourne and offers homemade Japanese-inspired confectionary.

Bournemouth Echo: Cookies with Japanese flavours offered at Sancha. Photo: Suzie Sherlock Cookies with Japanese flavours offered at Sancha. Photo: Suzie Sherlock

The business was founded this year by former fashion designer Samuel Alexander, 32, who lived in Tokyo for seven years.

Samuel utilised his aptitude for creativity and "amateur baking skills" to offer Western confectionary with a Japanese twist in Bournemouth, something he felt the local area was lacking.

Samuel said: "I love Japanese ingredients, so I thought it could be a great opportunity to put a slice of Japan in Bournemouth. I wanted a fusion between English recipes and Japanese flavours, and Sancha was born.

"There is a lot of Japanese food in Bournemouth such as sushi, but no Japanese sweets. Lots of people don’t know about the wonderful flavours of Japan.

"I used to have my own fashion design business in Tokyo and I lived there for seven years. I moved back to Bournemouth in June 2020 and I wanted a career change, so I came back and trained to be a graphic designer.

Bournemouth Echo: Samuel Alexander. Photo: Suzie SherlockSamuel Alexander. Photo: Suzie Sherlock

"One day I woke up at 3am with the idea of having my own restaurant and offering something that no one in the UK has seen before.

"My dream is to have my own store one day, but when I started I didn’t know if this would be popular or if people would love the idea enough."

Since Sancha's inception, Samuel has seen an increasing demand for his products which fuse Japanese flavours into everyday treats.

Sancha's main offering is four flavours of cookie.

This includes Matcha with Belgian chocolate, strawberry and white Belgian chocolate (these "create the essence of a Japanese cherry blossom"), black sesame and Himalayan pink salt and Kinako.

Bournemouth Echo: Cookies with Japanese flavours offered at Sancha. Photo: Suzie Sherlock Cookies with Japanese flavours offered at Sancha. Photo: Suzie Sherlock

Kinako is a roasted soy bean powder with a caramel/butterscotch taste, and is one of Samuel's favourite flavours.

Samuel also offers a Cookie Rune which is a cross between a French macaroon and a cookie, filled with Swiss meringue and white buttercream.

Samuel said: "My most popular product is my variety box which consists of eight cookies, two of each flavour. This allows people to find out which flavour is their favourite and it’s a good starting point for them.

"I also offer specials on the weekend which depends on what I fancy cooking. This encourages me to stay creative and offer different treats.

Bournemouth Echo: Cookies with Japanese flavours offered at Sancha. Photo: Suzie Sherlock Cookies with Japanese flavours offered at Sancha. Photo: Suzie Sherlock

"I want people to discover something new and I want to educate and treat people about Japanese flavours."

Sancha will be at the South Coast Makers Market on Saturday, July 3.

To keep up to date with Sancha, visit: https://www.facebook.com/sanchabomo

To nominate your favourite business for Trader of the Week, email: maya.george@bournemouthecho.co.uk or click below.