12 recommended dishes using cherry blossoms, the delicate taste of Japanese spring

1. Sakura rice ball

Sakura rice balls are a popular daily food in Japan.Japan. By mixing the chewy, soft rice grains with salted cherry blossoms, a gentle pale pink color and unique aroma are created. To further enhance its appeal, some versions are wrapped in salted cherry leaves, which retain moisture and highlight the mild saltiness mixed with the rice’s natural sweetness.

In addition to having a special flavor, this Japanese cherry blossom dish also has good luck meanings and symbolizes innovation. When Japanese people organize cherry blossom viewing picnics in the spring, cute little rice balls often appear in picnic baskets, along with sake and other traditional dishes.

2. Sakura Sushi

Sushi is a symbol of Japanese cuisine, but Sakura’s version of sushi (Sakura Inari sushi) has a very unique nuance. Gentle sour salted cherry blossoms are mixed into sushi rice and packed into a golden fried tofu bag. When you eat it, the umami of tofu fat and the gentle scent of cherry blossoms are added to it, giving you a taste like never before.

This Japanese cherry blossom dish often appears at spring festivals, especially cherry blossom viewing parties. Sakura sushi is not only beautiful in color, but also has a perfect balance of sweetness, sourness, and fat, making it an unforgettable taste.
 3. Sakura Cold Noodles 

Sakura cold noodles are one of the Japanese cherry blossom dishes that bring coolness in the hot summer. The noodles, which are made by mixing rice flour with cherry blossom powder, have a gentle pastel pink color that gives a feeling of lightness and purity. When you eat it, each soft noodle intertwines with the sweet soup, giving off a faint scent of cherry blossoms, creating a poetic eating experience.

Sakura cold noodles are not only colorful, but also beautiful with salty cherry blossom petals floating on the surface. This is not only a typical summer dish, but also a perfect combination of culinary art and traditional Japanese culture. Served with light soy sauce or dashi stock, this noodle dish is well-balanced in taste and nutrition.
 4. Sakuramochi 

Speaking of Japanese cherry blossom cuisine, it is impossible not to talk about sakura mochi. This is a traditional cake often used at spring festivals. The outside is a smooth light pink glutinous rice skin, and the inside is filled with red bean paste wrapped in salted cherry leaves, giving it a perfect combination of sweetness and light saltiness. During the cherry blossom season, bakeries across the country sell sakuramochi as a classic spring gift. Sakuramochi is not only delicious, but it also conveys the spirit of Japanese culture, showing appreciation for nature and long-standing traditional values.
 5. Sakura Dango Cake

During cherry blossom season, Japanese people gather around old trees to celebrate the cherry blossom viewing festival. On this occasion, cherry blossom dango is a must-have for outdoor banquets. This type of cake contains three round balls in three typical colors: pink, white, and green, symbolizing the changing seasons.

Sakura dango is characterized by the aroma and sweetness of salted cherry blossom petals, and its soft texture. When paired with warm green tea, the slight sweetness of the cake mixes with the bitterness of the tea, creating a delicate taste. Hanami dango is not only a traditional dish, but also a symbol of joy and reunion, helping people enjoy the festival atmosphere.
 6. Sakura jelly

Sakura jelly (sakura yokan) is one of the popular Japanese cherry blossom dishes for its gentle taste and delicate appearance. A soft and smooth jelly made by mixing adzuki bean flour and gelatin. The key point of Sakura Yokan is that salted cherry blossom petals are gently placed inside the transparent jelly, creating a tranquil beauty that resembles cherry blossoms blooming in the morning sun.

Sakura jelly has a special flavor that combines the gentle sweetness of red beans with the slightly salty taste of pickled cherry blossoms. When you enjoy it, the floral aroma spreads in your mouth, giving you a feeling of relaxation and elegance. This is not only an attractive dessert, but also a symbol of the refined art of Japanese cuisine.

7. Sakura milk pudding

Sakura Milk Pudding is a dessert with a modern taste while retaining the elegance of Japanese cuisine. This dish, made with domestically grown cherry blossoms, is composed of two layers: a layer of soft and smooth milk pudding with the rich aroma of raw milk, and a layer of transparent cherry jelly sprinkled with small cherry blossom petals, creating a dish that is harmonious in both taste and appearance. “Sakura Milk Pudding” has a refreshing taste from the first bite, combining the light and thick taste of milk with the slightly salty taste of salted cherry blossoms. When eaten chilled, this pudding is perfect for enjoying the gentle atmosphere of spring.
 8. Sakura ice cream

Sakura ice cream is a refreshing and pure product made with Japanese cherry blossoms. This ice cream is a combination of salted cherry blossom petals, raw milk and cream, and has an exciting flavor with a hint of saltiness added to the sweetness. To make ice cream, first soak cherry blossoms in water to reduce the salt content, then mix with a mixture of milk and fresh cream. The natural scent of cherry blossoms spreads throughout, creating an elegant taste that is neither too strong nor loses its individuality. It is a popular spring dessert often served in traditional Japanese cafes and restaurants.
 9. Sakura tea

Sakura tea is one of the dishes that uses cherry blossoms, which is a part of Japanese traditional culture. This tea is brewed by dropping salted cherry blossoms into hot water, and is a clear tea with a gentle aroma and cool taste.

Sakura tea is characterized by the way the flowers are processed. The flowers are salted to preserve their natural color and aroma and washed before making the tea. When placed in hot water, the petals slowly open, creating a beautiful scenery reminiscent of cherry blossoms blooming outdoors. It’s not just a drink, it’s a way to enjoy tea, so you can fully experience spring in Japan.
 10. Sakurai Chocolate

Sakurama Chocolate is a modern style Japanese cherry blossom dish that combines soft white chocolate and cherry flavor. This blend creates fresh chocolate with a sweet, slightly salty, and unique aroma, offering a new taste experience.

The manufacturing process of Sakurama chocolate requires careful attention to each step. We melted white chocolate, mixed it with fresh cream, and added cherry blossom extract and salted cherry petals to create a unique flavor. This chocolate is often cut into small pieces and wrapped in delicate gift boxes, making it a meaningful gift for friends and relatives during the cherry blossom season.
 11. Sakura Anmitsu

Sakura Anmitsu is a classic yet original dish made with Japanese cherry blossoms. A cool dessert with many ingredients such as agar jelly, mochi, red bean paste, and cherry blossom ice cream. This combination brings together sweetness, fat, and lightness, making every bite appealing.

To make sakura anmitsu, cut the jelly into cubes and add the soft mochi along with the red bean paste. The highlight is the cherry blossom ice cream on top, which has a subtle fragrance that highlights the beauty of the dessert. It’s the perfect dish for warm spring days when cherry blossoms are in full bloom all over Japan.
 12. Sakura Macaron

We combined the French cake “macaron” with cherry blossoms to create a dish that evokes the feeling of the Land of the Rising Sun. A beautiful small cake with crispy dough, soft serve ice cream, and a faint cherry scent that will bring you a new taste. This cake has an attractive soft pink color and is popular as a dessert for tea parties and special occasions.
The sweetness of the cherry blossoms and the slight sourness balance the creamy taste, creating a harmonious and pleasant taste. This creativity not only gives the macarons a new look, but also creates a subtle interference between the two dishes, creating excitement for those who love cooking with Japanese cherry blossoms.

Japanese cuisine has always known how to evoke emotions through each dish, and dishes with cherry blossomsJapanis the clearest evidence. Each dish has an elegant, sophisticated beauty that encapsulates the spring spirit and boundless creativity of Phutan cuisine.