Hime Sakura

Tis the season for special sakura (cherry blossom) flavored treats.  While we enjoyed some very delicious sakura mochi recently, there are other similar, yet different treats to celebrate the season.

As people celebrated Hina Matsuri (Girls Day, a holiday celebrating girls and where people display dolls representing the Emperor, Empress, and more) on March 3, many people enjoyed sakura flavored desserts. 

Last week, my husband brought home hime sakura - a strawberry with sweet bean paste (anko), wrapped in a pink sakura-colored crepe and sakura leaf.  The leaf is preserved in salt and provides a salty sweet treat that gives your taste buds a journey.

I liked how the hime sakura was stacked and dressed similar to a Hina Matsuri doll in kimono.  Hime sakura was basically chomeiji with a strawberry.  The berry was a very nice compliment to the confection.