Unique Japan

A well-known Japanese saying, “Hana yori Dango”, means pudding rather than praise. A direct translation is more along the lines of dumpling rather than blossom. It’s a perfect phrase for me since now is the time of year people spend long happy hours under the Sakura (Cherry) trees for Ohanami (Flower viewing), and I, for one, am heading off to the sweets store to check out some of the Sakura sweets.

You might be asking yourself, are cherry blossoms edible? The answer is yes. There are cherry jams, pickles, ice cream, dumplings, bread, tea…the list goes on and on. Furthermore, Japanese people not only use the flower but also the cherry tree leaves.

It’s unfortunate that I can’t deliver the smell or the taste to my readers, but I will do my best to describe it.

Sakura Mochi (Cherry Rice Cake)
An old-time Japanese favorite! You can see the pickled cherry leaf wrapped around the cake. Some people don’t eat the leaves but it is supposed to bring out the sweetness of the bean paste inside and transfer the cherry scent to the cake. (Maybe those of you who like to put salt on water melons would like to eat it with the leaf.) The soft pink color is, unfortunately, not from the cherry flower, but the effects of a little food coloring. The scent is reminiscent of freshly cut straw with a hint of a flowery aroma. The taste? It’s not too sweet and the combination of sticky dough and soft bean paste inside creates a texture that suggests a taffy-like elasticity but delivers a spongy softness. I’ve never had a craving for Sakura Mochi, but it’s a welcome treat for special occasions and is a perfect accompaniment to a cup of green tea.

Many companies are eager to create a variety of cherry sweets in spring.
The traditional Wagashi store called Tachibana has beautiful and delicate cherry sweets available; Sakura Sakura and Jyonamagashi.
A well-known confectionary store in Japan, Ginza Cozy Corner, has its own cherry cake lineup.

The beauty of the cherry blossom is short-lived. That’s why it captivates the hearts of Japanese people and others every year. Cherry blossoms are pleasing to the eye as well as to the stomach.

If you have a chance to try out some cherry sweets, go for it. And let me know what you think.