Tokyo Desserts

March is the time for cherry blossoms in Japan, however, the month can be finicky - warm some days and down right cold on others. Cherry blossoms bloom in Japan in a wave starting from the southern area of the country and slowly move north. Just to add confusion to this story, there are different types of cherry blossoms. Some types of blossoms are early bloomers and show their pink flowers even in early February.

March isn't just about blossoms; it's a month of transitions and closures in Japan. It marks the traditional end of the fiscal year for companies and schools alike. Companies wrap up their year-end books at the end of March and start fresh from April. Students also start their school year from April.

March signifies the conclusion of one chapter and the anticipation of the next. Against the backdrop of fleeting cherry blossoms, a sense of renewal lingers in the air.

This matcha parfait is all dressed up to celebrate the sakura season and is easy to put together. Choose your favorite dish and start the layering. Assemble your own masterpiece with layers of delight: I made mine with a luscious strawberry mousse at the bottom, followed by a dollop of Greek yogurt sweetened with condensed milk, sprinkled with crunchy granola, and crowned with a velvety matcha mousse. Let your creativity bloom as you craft your springtime parfait, capturing the essence of the season in every spoonful.

 

Hope to see you there!

 

This simple but beautiful wagashi of a folded autumn leaf enclosing a bundle of red bean paste evokes an image of a fallen leaf. It is made from nerikiri which is one of the most commonly used wagashi ingredients. Neriki is a mixture of white bean paste and a binding agent called gyuhi. The dough is kneaded into a smooth texture and colored and can be easily molded into many different shapes.

This beautiful dessert was made by Okashidokoro Sasama located in downtown Tokyo. Another delicious dessert from the same shop evokes the image of autumn and a fallen chestnut and secondly a beautiful rendition of a green glaze and rustic pattern from a traditional ceramic teacup. 

Toraya is another wagashi shop with a long history. The shop was founded in Kyoto during the late Muromachi period and has been in business since. It has served the Imperial Palace since the time of Emperor Goyozei (1586-1611). In 1869, the capital of Japan transferred to Tokyo from Kyoto and the shop followed the move, but the Kyoto shop remained and it continues to operate there today. As you travel around Japan, you will see the Toraya shops in many locations. This shop is still as vibrant and bustling as it ever was.

Traditions are well respected in Japan but so is the need to remain relevant and connect with a new generation of customers. Matcha, green tea, has grown in popularity as a beverage worldwide as it is now served iced or hot, whipped and sweet. In Japan, the matcha boom has also rekindled opportunities for serving wagashi and these new sweets may now be shaped as your favorite Pokémon character instead of an elegant cherry blossom.

Have you tried red bean paste? What is your favorite wagashi? Hope you can find some of these delicious treats in your local city. Or if you are courageous enough, jump online and learn how to make them yourself.