Cherry blossoms season is coming in Japan. I think "Ohanami" which is the party to celebrate coming spring by seeing blooming cherry blossoms (with feasts and beers sometimes) is famous in the abroad. But do you know that Japanese people enjoy cherry blossoms by not only seeing but also eating? Today, I want to describe the culinary tradition of Japan, and how to eat cherry blossoms and what is the taste.

◆Sakura-mochi

Sakura-mochi is the most famous cherry blossoms dishes, and it is one of the Japanese sweets "Wagashi." It is covered with cherry blossoms leaves which is pickled with salt because to transfer its fantastic aroma.
Interestingly, the main body of Sakura-mochi is different between Kanto ( eastern part of Japan) and Kansai (western part of Japan). To Cover Anko(adzuki bean's sweet paste) with a pink crust is similar to each other, but the form and the ingredient of the crust are different. Kanto style is made of flour and looks like a small crepe. Instead, Kansai style is made by glutinous rice and looks like mochi. It is said that each style was created by another sweet shop separately, so the different form exists until now.

◆Sakura-Cha

Sakura-Cha means cherry blossom tea, but it doesn't contain any tea leaves. It is the hot drink poured hot water on the flower of cherry blossom which is pickled with salt. It has a salty taste and a fantastic aroma.
Sakura-Cha is indispensable for celebration scenes such as marriages and birth because the beautiful appearance which looks like blooming cherry blossoms in a cup is considered about "future will be blooming." Because pickled flowers can storage for a long time, we can enjoy sakura-Cha not only spring but also all seasons.

◆Sakura-Gohan

Sakura-Gohan is cooked rice with salty pickled cherry blossom flowers. It is a good idea not just to eat but also to make a rice ball or to use in a lunch box.

There are a variety of dishes using cherry blossom flowers such as Cookies, puddings, bread, and so on because salty pickled cherry blossom flowers is a useful food material. Why don't you try cherry blossom foods or cook cherry blossom dishes when visiting Japan?