Sakuramochi

Sakuramochi

Sakuramochi (Tokyo-style)
Place of origin	Japan
Main ingredients	sweet pink-colored rice cake, red bean paste, pickled cherry blossom leaf
Other information	Traditionally consumed on Hinamatsuri and at Hanami
Cookbook: Sakuramochi  Media: Sakuramochi

Kansai-style sakuramochi

Sakura mochi (A variation of Kansai style)

Sakuramochi (桜餅) is a Japanese sweet consisting of sweet pink-colored rice cake (mochi) with a red bean paste (anko) center, and wrapped in a pickled cherry blossom (sakura) leaf. Different regions of Japan have different styles of sakuramochi. Kanto-style uses shiratama-ko (白玉粉, rice flour) to make the rice cake, and Kansai-style uses dōmyōji-ko (道明寺粉, glutinous rice flour). The sweet is traditionally eaten during the spring season, and especially on Girl's Day (hinamatsuri) and at flower viewing parties (hanami).

The interior of a sakuramochi, showing the red-bean paste inside.

The leaf may or may not be eaten, depending on individual preference.

Sakuramochi is typically eaten during the spring season only, and is especially eaten on Girl's Day, March 3, and in hanami settings.

See also

• Sakurayu
• Sakura cheese
• Hanabiramochi
• Hwajeon
• Japanese tea ceremony