Mochi for Spring
The story behind a Japanese confection that came to be 300 years ago
What is sakura-mochi?
Sakura-mochi is a type of wagashi, or Japanese confection made with sweet azuki bean paste wrapped in sticky pink mochi rice and a salted sakura leaf. Unlike traditional wagashi desserts, sakura-mochi has a slightly herbal aroma to it, and the salty-sweetness from the leaves is said to pair well with sake. The earthy scent of the flower is immersed in the starchiness of the mochi, which creates a delicate layer of complexity in the flavor.
The story behind it
Sakura-mochi was said to be founded at a shop near Chomeiji Temple around 300 years ago. The temple is located near the Sumidagawa River, known for having a lot of sakura trees growing along the bank.
As the story goes, there was a gatekeeper there who swept the sakura leaves in the spring. He thought that the fallen leaves were such a waste, and so instead of throwing them out, the gatekeeper decided to take the sakura leaves and preserve them in saltwater and use them to wrap leftover mochi. They were instantly popular.
Today the Sumidagawa River is famous for its sakura trees and their pink blossoms, where you’ll also find a handful of confectionery shops lined up…
