It is said that Ume Wan is a legacy from times when sugar was a precious commodity, but according to the menus of the Shippoku Cuisine in ancient times, some sweets other than shiruko were also served; hence this opinion remains inconclusive.
砂糖が貴重品だった時代の名残ともいわれるが、古い時代の卓袱料理の献立では汁粉以外の菓子類等が出されており、確証は無い。