Sakura is a beautiful variety of cherry blossoms that bloom in Spring. They are infinitely gorgeous in shades of pinks and whites, and Japan sees an influx of tourists every Spring; people from all over the world fly to Japan for hanami (cherry blossom viewing).
And in the recent few years, the Japanese have been using sakura as an enhancing ingredient. You’d be surprised how sakura can be consumed in so many ways!
Generally, sakura is used as a flavour, as a light pink food colouring or as a garnish in modern cuisine. Here are 8 Sakura Foods You Must Try During The Cherry Blossom Season.
#1 THE SAKURA MOCHI
A light pink-coloured rice cake, the sakura mochi envelops a pickled cherry blossom. The sakura mochi is a popular sweet that is predominantly eaten during Springtime and at flower viewing parties. The leaf is also usually pickled in salt to lengthen the dessert’s shelf-life.
Here in Singapore, you can purchase the sakura mochi at Dezato Dezato at J Cube!
Dezato Dezato
J Avenue, #02-95, 2 Jurong East Central 1, Singapore 609731
Tel: +65 6566 7128
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest station: Jurong East
#2 SAKURA DAIFUKU
Somewhat similar to the sakura mochi, the sakura daifuku is a small dessert that is made up of Japanese glutinous rice cake that has been infused with sakura, and is stuffed with a sweet filling (usually red or white bean paste).
#3 SAKURA WAGASHI
Wagashi is a generic term for traditional Japanese desserts, and the sakura wagashi spots a beautiful appearance. Japanese often send them to family or friends as a seasonal greeting or gift.
In Japan, you can also find sakura wagashi served at restaurants, temples, and teahouses during Spring. For those of us in Singapore, you can find sakura wagashi at the Minamoto Kitchoan at Takashimaya.
Minamoto Kitchoan
391-A Orchard Road, Takashimaya Department Store, #B206-1, Singapore 238873
Tel: +65 6735 1315
Daily: 10am – 9.30pm
Nearest station: Orchard
#4 SAKURA TEA
When we talk about sakura tea, this refers a combination of dried sakura leaves and sencha leaves. Just imagine unwinding to a hot cup of sakura tea after a long day of work—this will definitely sooth your senses and revitalise your weary soul.
#5 SAKURAYU
The direct translation of Sakurayu is “cherry blossom tea”. As compared to the regular sakura tea, Sakurayu is a Japanese infusion that is made of seeping, pickled cherry blossoms soaked in water.
Preparation of the pickled cherry blossoms involves picking cherry blossom petals that are thereafter pickled in plum vinegar and salt before being dried. Also, did you know that the Sakurayu is usually served at weddings as it symbolises the ‘beginning’?
#6 SAKURA ANPAN
Relying on the same concept of anpan (Japanese soft bun with sweet fillings), the sakura anpan is bread that is filled with a sweet bean paste combined with cherry blossoms.
If you cannot get your hands on a sakura anpan, why not try to make your own version of the Sakura Anpan at home? Give this recipe by Washoku a shot, and let us know how your baking goes!
#7 SAKURA MACARONS
Macarons have always been the rage in Singapore, and this small and delicate dessert complements the fragile Sakura flower perfectly. Used as a flavouring for the macaron shell, the sakura flower is also used as a topping for the macaron, which makes it such a gorgeous sight to behold.
For those who are feeling slightly adventurous, consider baking your own Sakura macarons with this recipe from Bento Monsters!
If you are not feeling too confident of your baking skills, fret not, because TWG Tea and the Bonheur Patisserie have sakura macarons up for grabs during the cherry blossom season.
TWG Tea
ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, #02-21, Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6735 1837
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest station: Orchard
Bonheur Patisserie
#B1-72, 252 North Bridge Rd, Raffles City Robinsons, Singapore 179103
Tel: +65 6336 3104
Daily: 10.30am – 10pm
Nearest station: Orchard
Photo Credit: Japanese Cooking 101
#8 HANAMI DANGO
A popular sweet during the cherry blossom season is the Hanami Dango—a sweet Japanese Mochi dessert which has three chewy Dango balls skewered on a stick.
They are mildly sweet, but very very pretty.