|
Sakuramochi
is a Japanese confection (''wagashi'') 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 to make the rice cake, and Kansai-style uses . The sweet is traditionally eaten during the spring season, especially on Girl's Day (''hinamatsuri''; March 3) and at flower viewing parties (''hanami''). The leaf may or may not be eaten depending on individual preference. Types of sakuramochi Sakuramochi differs by shapes and recipes, depending on areas it was made. ; Kanto-style sakuramochi : Sakuramochi made in Kanto area. Outside of Kanto-area the Kanto-style sakuramochi is also known as , named after a temple near the shop first sold the sweets). : Kanto-style sakuramochi is often sold together with Kansai-style sakuramochi in supermarkets. ; Kansai-style sakuramochi : Sakuramochi made in Ka ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cherry Blossom
A cherry blossom, also known as Japanese cherry or sakura, is a flower of many trees of genus ''Prunus'' or ''Prunus'' subg. ''Cerasus''. They are common species in East Asia, including China, Korea and especially in Japan. They generally refer to ornamental cherry trees, not to be confused with cherry trees that produce fruit for eating.Toshio Katsuki. (2015) ''Sakura''. pp.14–18 Iwanami Shoten. It is considered the national flower of Japan. Wild species of the cherry tree is widely distributed mainly in the Northern hemisphere. In the mainstream classification in Europe and North America, cherry trees for ornamental purposes are classified into the genus ''Prunus'' which consists of about 400 species. In the mainstream classification in Japan, China, and Russia, on the other hand, ornamental cherry trees are classified into the genus ''Cerasus'', which consists of about 100 species separated from the genus ''Prunus'', and the genus ''Cerasus'' does not include '' P ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mochi
is a Japanese rice cake made of , a short-grain japonica glutinous rice, and sometimes other ingredients such as water, sugar, and cornstarch. The rice is pounded into paste and molded into the desired shape. In Japan, it is traditionally made in a ceremony called . While eaten year-round, mochi is a traditional food for the Japanese New Year, and is commonly sold and eaten during that time. Mochi is a multicomponent food consisting of polysaccharides, lipids, protein, and water. Mochi has a heterogeneous structure of amylopectin gel, starch grains, and air bubbles. The rice used for mochi has a negligible amylose content and a high amylopectin level, producing a gel-like consistency. The protein content of the japonica rice used to make mochi is higher than that of standard short-grain rice. Mochi is similar to , but is made by pounding grains of rice, while dango is made with rice flour. History The process of steaming glutinous rice and making it into a paste ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north toward the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, and Taiwan in the south. Japan is a part of the Ring of Fire, and spans an archipelago of 6852 islands covering ; the five main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu (the "mainland"), Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa. Tokyo is the nation's capital and largest city, followed by Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Kobe, and Kyoto. Japan is the eleventh most populous country in the world, as well as one of the most densely populated and urbanized. About three-fourths of the country's terrain is mountainous, concentrating its population of 123.2 million on narrow coastal plains. Japan is divided into 47 administrative prefectures and eight traditional regions. The Greater Tokyo Ar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hwajeon
''Hwajeon'' (), or flower cake is a small Korean pan-fried rice cake. It is made out of glutinous rice flour, honey and edible petals from seasonal flowers, such as rhododendron. It is eaten during the festivals of '' Samjinnal'' and Buddha's Birthday. Etymology The word ''hwajeon'' (; ) is a compound noun made of the hanja character ''hwa'' (; ), meaning "flower", and the character '' jeon'' (; ), meaning "a pan-fry". The synonyms ''kkot-bukkumi'' () and ''kkot-jijimi'' () are also compounds of the native Korean word ''kkot'' (), meaning "flower", and ''bukkumi'' (), meaning a "pan-fried rice cake"; or ''kkot'' () and '' jijimi'' (), meaning "pancake". Varieties and preparation ''Hwajeon'' is made of edible petals from seasonal flowers. Typically, rhododendron, pear flower, goldenbell flower, cherry blossom, and violet are used in spring; rose is used in summer; and chrysanthemum and cockscomb are used in autumn. In winter when flowers are scarce in Korea, alternati ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Japanese Tea Ceremony
The Japanese tea ceremony (known as or ) is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of , powdered green tea, the procedure of which is called . While in the West it is known as "tea ceremony", it is seldom ceremonial in practice. Most often tea is served to family, friends, and associates; religious and ceremonial connotations are overstated in western spaces. While in the West it is known as a form of tea ceremony, in Japan the art and philosophy of tea can be more accurately described as "Teaism" as opposed to focusing on the ceremonial aspect. Zen Buddhism was a primary influence in the development of the culture of Japanese tea. Much less commonly, Japanese tea practice uses leaf tea, primarily , a practice known as . Tea gatherings are classified as either an informal tea gathering () or a formal tea gathering (). A is a relatively simple course of hospitality that includes confections, thin tea, and perhaps a light meal. A is a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wajik
''Wajik'' or ''wajid'', also known as ''pulut manis'', is a traditional glutinous sweet made with rice, sugar and coconut milk. It is an Indonesian '' kue'', and a ''kuih'' of Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia (especially in the state of Sabah). Definition The official Indonesian dictionary describes wajik as a confectionery made from a mixture of sticky rice, sugar, and coconut milk and cut into diamond shapes (rhombus or parallelogram). Ingredients and shapes The main ingredients of wajik are glutinous rice, palm sugar, and coconut milk. The high content of sugar serves as a natural preservative since sugar inhibits the growth of microbes. A correctly produced and packaged wajik could last for up to two weeks. To enhance the aroma, wajik is often enhanced with aromatic ingredients such as pandanus, vanilla, or brown sugar and durian. A variant called ''wajik kelapa'' is uses coconut and palm sugar. Wajik have various shapes, but the most famous one is the rhombus or paralle ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kashiwa Mochi
Kashiwa mochi (Japanese: かしわ餅, 柏餅) is a wagashi (Japanese confection) of white mochi surrounding a sweet ''anko'' (red bean paste) filling with a Kashiwa leaf wrapped around it. Unlike the cherry blossom leaf used in sakura mochi, the oak (kashiwa) leaf used in kashiwa mochi is not eaten and used only to symbolize the prosperity of one's descendants. Tango no sekku, Children's Day Tango no sekku (Children's Day) is celebrated in Japan on May 5. On this day, the Japanese promote the happiness and well-being of children. ''Kashiwa-mochi'' and '' chimaki'' are made especially for this celebration. See also * ''Mochi'' * Japanese rice Japanese rice refers to a number of short-grain cultivars of Japonica rice including ordinary rice (''uruchimai'') and glutinous rice (''mochigome''). Ordinary Japanese rice, or ''uruchimai'' ( 粳米), is the staple of the Japanese diet and co ... * Sakuramochi References {{Portal bar, Japan, Food Wagashi Glutinous rice ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hanabiramochi
is a Japanese sweet (''wagashi''), usually eaten at the beginning of the year. Hanabiramochi are also served at the first tea ceremony of the new year. Origin The name "hanabiramochi" literally means "flower petal mochi". The original form of Hanabiramochi is ''Hishihanabira'', a dessert that was eaten by the Imperial family at special events coinciding with the beginning of the year. ''Hanabiramochi'' was first made in the Meiji Era (8 September 1868 – 30 July 1912), but it is now a familiar New Year ''wagashi''. Form The exact shape of ''hanabiramochi'' is strictly defined by tradition. The white ''mochi'' covering is flat and round, folded over to form a semicircular shape, and must have a pink color showing through in the center of the confection, fading to a white at the edge. Unlike a ''daifuku'', the ''mochi'' must not completely seal the insides. In the center of a ''hanabiramochi'' is a layer of '' anko'', a sweet bean paste, commonly the white kind made from sweete ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hishi Mochi
is a symbolic Japanese sweet associated with the Hinamatsuri "Girl's Day" festival, which coincides with the calendar date for Xiuxi (上巳). The sweet is diamond shapes and typically formed from three layers of red (pink), white, and green mochi, from top to bottom. Depending on region, yellow may be substituted for red, or the sweet may have 5 or 7 layers instead. It is usually presented with hina dolls. The shape is believed to have originated in the Edo period, and to be a representation of fertility. Colors The red of the mochi are derived from fruits of ''Gardenia jasminoides'' (山梔子), and is symbolic of peach flowers. The white is made from the water caltrop (菱, hishi), and represents the snow and its cleansing effects. Finally, the green is from '' Gnaphalium affine'' (ハハコグサ) or mugwort{{Cite book, last1=Kader, first1=Jean-Claude, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S8yqjc7Ml68C&dq=Hishi+mochi&pg=PA390, title=Advances in Botanical Research, last2=Del ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sakurayu
Sakurayu ( ja, 桜湯), Sakura-cha (桜茶), literally "''cherry blossom tea''", is a Japanese cuisine, Japanese infusion created by steeping pickling, pickled cherry blossoms with boiled water. This combination becomes a type of herbal tea, and has been enjoyed in East Asian culture for many generations. Preparation The main ingredient, cherry blossoms petals, are harvested when the cherry trees bloom from mid to late spring. After the calyxes are removed, the petals are then pickled in Prunus mume, plum vinegar and salt and the product subsequently dried. The dried cherry blossoms are then stored or sealed in tea packets and sold. In order to produce sakurayu, a few such dried, salt-pickled blossoms must be sprinkled into a cup of hot water. Once covered in hot water, the collapsed petals unfurl and float. The herbal tea is then allowed to steeping, steep until the flavor reaches its desired intensity. The resulting drink tastes slightly salty. The tea is a very light slightly ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
