WASHOKU sakuramochi

http://washokufood.blogspot.jp/2008/02/spring-rice-cakes.html


Late Spring


Sakura mochi, sakuramochi ... 桜餅
Cherry Blossom Rice Cakes

This is a variety of wagashi, or Japanese confectionery consisting of a sweet pink mochi (rice cake) and red bean paste, covered with a leaf of sakura (cherry).

The style of sakuramochi differs from the regions in Japan. Basically, the east of Japan such as Tokyo uses shiratama-ko (白玉粉, shiratama-ko rice flour) and the west side such as Kansai uses dōmyōji-ko (道明寺粉, dōmyōji-ko glutinous rice flour) for batter.

More in the WIKIPEDIA !

In some areas they are also eaten for
the Doll Festival (Hina Matsuri).


三つ食えば葉三片や桜餅　
mitsu kueba yoo sanpen ya sakuramochi　

if you eat three
you have three leaves -
sakuramochi

Takahama Kyoshi 高浜虚子

At the temple Choomeiji 長命寺 Chomei-Ji they are wrapped in three leaves, so if you eat three cakes you have nine leaves.


Utagawa Toyokuni 歌豊国 (国貞) －　向島堤の花並びに桜餅

Two ladies carry Sakuramochi from the temple, maybe as a souvenir to the people back home. They have a pole in their hands and two bamboo baskets full of the sweets!

. Choomeiji 長命寺 Chomei-Ji, Sumida ward, Tokyo . 　　

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