Wagashi: Where Taste & Tradition Collide

:wind_chime: Lei :wind_chime: 07/29/20

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Hey JA! I have a treat for you~

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I'm sure most of you have come across Mochi~

Wagashi: Where Taste & Tradition Collide-[C]･.｡.:*･･*:.｡.･･.｡.:*･･*:.｡.･･.｡.:*･･*:.｡.･

[C]Hey JA! I have a treat for you~

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Now, I will introduce you to Mochi's siblings!

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Wagashi 和菓子

Japanese Traditional Sweets

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Wagashi is a confectionary that varies per season.

Aren't they かわいい?

Wagashi comes in all kinds of different forms! And there are two major kinds of Wagashi:

Formal and Everyday

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Formal

Formal Wagashi are served during tea ceremonies and on other special occasions.

Everyday

Everyday Wagashi are often rice cakes with various fillings and toppings.

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Formal Wagashi

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Everyday Wagashi

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Each amazing result comes from a humble beginning, so let's have a look at its History~

History of Wagashi

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The Chinese influence

Trade with the Sui and Tang Dynasties during the Asuka period (538-710) brought back various types of Chinese confectionaries.

Back then, sugar was a luxury import good that was rare, and its primary use was for medicine. This means, in the past wagashi was only served in the Imperial Court and Religious Dieties and not circulated among the Commoners.

Matsudaira Fumai (1751-1818)

The Seventh Lord of Matsue, Matsudaira Harusato (A Samurai Feudal Lord)

Also known as Fumai-ko

Fumai-ko is known as the ruling lord for 39 years, but also well known as a tea master~

It is said that he promoted the development of the wagashi during Edo period.

Fumai-ko loves tea so much and has paired these delightful treats along with it.

So if you're ever planning to have a Japanese themed tea party, you know what to do. (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧

Note!! Wagashi is always consumed before the matcha is served. Never Together.

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The Ingredients

There are 三 major ingredients for these delights.

1.) Grain - (Rice) is a common choice. Wagashi's texture and firmness are determined by the grain used to make it.

2.) Sugar - atleast 5 kinds of sugar are commonly used in Wagashi, including wasambon with its well balanced taste, sweet granulated sugar, and flavourful brown sugar. They are chosen carefully for the desired sweetness and taste.

3.) Beans - adzuki beans are very important, sugar is added to cook adzuki and then the mixture is boiled down to make a sweet paste called an or anko.

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Where can I try these?

Everywhere

These are only some of the Wagashi shops in Japan that has quite the history~

Tokyo

1. Kototoi Dango

Mukoujima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo

This shop is 130 years old and was founded during the Edo period.

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2. Chomeiji Sakura Mochi

Mukouijima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo

This shop was founded in 1717. It is said that the founder of the shop got the idea when he was pickling sakura leaves~ :leaves: :cherry_blossom:

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So...how much does it cost?

The quality of these treats are no joke so expect quite a price!

Prices ranges from ¥370 (around 3 USD) to ¥4,000( almost 40 USD) or higher!

You can buy Wagashi by box or by piece so prices also varies~

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Common Questions

Q: I wanna bring some home! How long can Wagashi last?

A: 5-7 days and they should be refrigerated!

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Q: What does it taste like?

A: Oho, these treats aren't just sweet. There are 5 flavours: Sour, Bitter, Sweet, Spicy, and Salty. The reason for this is due to the Wagashi's season. (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.) And don't worry, flavors are combined really well by the experts~

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Q: Is it worth it?

A: Experiencing Tradition, Heritage, and Taste at the same time is never a waste.

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