Share
The arrival of spring in Japan is marked by the appearance of sakura, or cherry blossoms. The nation is covered with these pink blossoms, which turn streets, parks, and hillside viewpoints into picturesque landscapes. The season lasts for a short period usually from late March to early April and people look forward to the custom of hanami (viewing cherry blossoms).
During this season, Japanese cuisine also experiences a delicious transformation, as both home cooks and chefs infuse traditional food and drinks with the essence of sakura. These sakura-infused dishes make a brief appearance in marketplaces, restaurants, cafes and home kitchens during hanami. The flowers and leaves used in dishes undergo a specific preservation process: they're pickled in salt and plum vinegar, then either dried or kept in their brine which develops a unique sweet-salty flavour profile. Whether you're visiting a local cafe, or a restaurant or having a hanami picnic beneath blooming trees these sakura-infused foods are the perfect way to experience the charm of the season.
Sakura Mochi
This is one of the most famous wagashi (traditional Japanese delicacies) treats during the cherry blossom season. It is a sweet pink rice cake filled with red bean paste and wrapped in a pickled sakura leaf. It has a delicate floral aroma and is slightly salty. There are two regional types: Chomeiji-style from Kanto utilises smooth flour for a softer texture, and Domyoji-style from Kansai uses sticky rice flour.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Sakura Senbei
These are crispy rice crackers which are often flavoured with sakura powder or petals. To prepare these crispy snacks sakura essence is combined with rice flour and glutinous rice and baked. These light snacks have a faint floral aroma and are frequently decorated with pink colour. It can be paired with tea or perfect as a snack during a hanami picnic.
Image Credit: Flickr
Sakura Manju
Sakura manju is a delicious and beloved Japanese confection and is popular in many restaurants. They are soft steamed buns with sweet red bean paste (anko) and infused with sakura essence. For added visual appeal, these buns are frequently decorated with salted sakura petals or shaped like cherry blossoms. They are often paired with green tea.
Hanami Dango
It is another traditional rice dumpling that is typically eaten during the cherry blossom viewing season. They are skewered on sticks and consist of tri-coloured rice dumplings—pink, white, and green. Each colour of the dumpling represents a different aspect of the cherry blossom season; pink stands for the beauty of sakura blooms, white represents the purity of spring, and green colour symbolises the new greenery of fresh starts. This is the perfect springtime snack when paired with matcha tea.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Sakura Onigiri
Sakura Onigiri is prepared by mixing pickled sakura leaves or petals into the rice, giving classic Japanese rice balls a floral flavour. These onigiri are circular or triangle-shaped, and for extra taste, they can be stuffed with savoury foods like salmon or salted plum. This dish is both refreshing and filling because of the umami-rich ingredients and the delicate aroma of sakura.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Sakura Sake
Sakura Sake is a seasonal rice wine from Japan to which cherry blossoms are added which gives it a delicate flavour profile and a floral aroma. This beverage, which goes well with both savoury and sweet foods, is frequently served cold and is a favourite at hanami parties. For a more visual appeal, some variations even incorporate floating sakura petals.
Sakura Tea
This drink is popular during the spring season in Japan and is made by infusing pickled cherry blossom blooms into green tea or sencha (a type of Japanese ryokucha). It has a mild floral aroma and sweetness. Sakura Tea is served hot or cold, and it is perfect as a relaxing afternoon drink at home or for a hanami picnic. This tea is frequently given at special events like weddings, birthdays or spring festival celebrations.
Image Credit: Flickr
Sakura Yokan
Sakura yokan is a traditional Japanese jelly treat made with red bean paste. In this dish, the preserved sakura petals are frequently added for visual appeal. It has a mildly sweet flavour and smooth texture. It is perfect for an after-meal dessert or as a snack for the evening during the spring festival.
Image Credit: Flickr
