Tasting Sakura-Flavored Food and Where to Find Them

Every spring, Japan transforms into a breathtaking canvas of pink and white as Sakura trees burst into bloom. But the Sakura season is not just a feast for the eyes – it’s an exciting experience for the taste buds as well. Cafes, restaurants, and stores all over Japan unveil an array of Sakura-flavored food and drinks for a limited time during spring season.

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From mochi to ice cream, the culinary creations inspired by Sakura flowers are as varied as they are delicious. Let us take you on a journey through some of the best Sakura snacks and where to find them this cherry blossom season!

What Does Sakura Taste Like?

Not a lot of tourists realize that Sakura leaves are edible! Most people describe the flavor of Sakura as delicate, having a floral taste with subtle hints of cherry, rose, and almond. This unique combination offers a gentle sweetness that is both refreshing and even comforting.

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To better describe the taste of Sakura, think of the flavors of rose water or mild marzipan. Pickled cherry blossoms have a little bit of sourness in them. Some Sakura variations also carry a slightly salty or earthy undertone. This just shows the versatile flavor profile of Sakura trees.

Because of its unique taste, Sakura leaves are frequently used in syrups, pastes, and creams to add a floral twist in recipes. They are often incorporated into chocolates and sweets but can also be added to savory dishes such as Sakura onigiri or even drinks like Sakura tea and Sakura sake.

Why Are Sakura-Flavored Food Always Limited?

You may notice that Sakura food is usually offered on a limited time, usually around February to April. This is simply because cherry blossoms bloom and die out very quickly, limiting the production from harvesting Sakura leaves. Thus, it becomes a rare yet highly anticipated treat.

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Interestingly enough, the scarcity of cherry blossoms as an ingredient aligns with the flower’s connection to the Japanese concept of mono no aware. This philosophy celebrates the short-lived nature of cherry blossoms, as they bloom vibrantly for a short period before their petals gracefully fall to the ground. The fleeting nature of Sakura flowers mirrors the “impermanence of life,” encouraging people to cherish each moment.

This sense of mono no aware is reflected in Sakura food and drinks, which are available only during the season of cherry blossoms. The limited-time availability of these dishes heightens their allure, making them feel special and exclusive.

Sakura Flavoured Food: Our Top 12 Picks

Strawberry Sakura Soy Latte

Starbucks Japan is known for offering limited-edition drinks throughout the year, so what better way to celebrate the season of spring by serving their iconic Strawberry Sakura Soy Latte?

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This beverage combines the subtle floral Sakura flavor with the sweetness of strawberries that is enhanced with creamy soy milk. Topped with a sprinkle of Sakura blossoms, this latte is the perfect drink for those in need of caffeine during the season of Sakura in Japan.

This drink is available exclusively at Starbucks Japan locations nationwide typically from February to April. It’s a must-try for anyone looking to try out a unique and delicious beverage, as Starbucks Japan also offers other seasonal drinks like Sakura tea.

Sakura and Strawberry Pancake

For another sweet treat, the Sakura and Strawberry Pancake is a delightful dish that features pancakes infused with Sakura flavors topped with fresh strawberries and Sakura whipped cream.

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The pancakes are crafted in a thick, soufflé-style, offering a light and fluffy texture that melts in your mouth. Each bite makes you want more, with the light pink color of the Sakura-infused batter and the vibrant red of the strawberries creating a visually stunning dish.

You can savor these exquisite Sakura-flavored pancakes at Belle-Ville Pancake Cafe, a popular chain in Japan renowned for its soufflé-style pancakes. This sweet dish is perfect for brunches or afternoon snacks! They have branches in Osaka, Kobe, and Yokohama.

Sakura and Pistachio Chocolate Drink

Another drink to our list is the Sakura and Pistachio Chocolate Drink from Lindt. Lindt, a dessert shop that specializes in chocolate truffles and bars, offers this special beverage only in their Japan stores!

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If you love chocolate, then this drink is perfect for you. It may be even more perfect with the added blend of Sakura cream and the nutty taste of pistachios. The result is a creamy, crunchy, and smooth drink that excites your taste buds every time you take a sip!

Crafted with premium ingredients, don’t miss the chance to enjoy the Sakura and Pistachio Chocolate Drink at Lindt cafés in Japan, where you can savor the sweetness of spring through this luxurious drink. You can find them in Shibuya, Kichijoji, and Shinjuku.

Sakura Mochi

There was no way this list would not have Sakura mochi, as this dessert is one of the most popular Sakura treats in Japan. Mochi is a Japanese rice flour cake known for its soft and chewy texture, often filled with red bean paste.

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Sakura mochi is a little bit different. The bean paste still remains as the filling, but the rice cake itself is made out of cherry blossoms. It typically comes in an ellipsoid shape and blanketed by a salt-pickled Sakura leaf, making it a popular wagashi or traditional Japanese confection!

For those looking to try this sweet out, Sakura mochi can be found at various locations throughout Japan. Traditional sweet shops like Toraya in Tokyo offer an authentic taste of this seasonal delicacy, or you can find them at Kyoto’s Nishiki Market. Additionally, department store food halls across Japan are excellent places to discover Sakura mochi during the cherry blossom season.

Sakura Matcha Pocky Biscuit Sticks

If you haven’t heard of Pocky, then where have you been?! This sweet snack food has been around Japan since 1966, invented by Yoshiaki Koma. It consists of chocolate-coated biscuit sticks, but later on, has expanded to different kinds of flavors and variations such as green tea, strawberry, and almond.

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Every Spring season, Pocky releases their Sakura Pocky for a limited time. Each stick is coated with pink Sakura-infused chocolate sprinkled with a little bit of salt. For an even more delicious twist, they also have their Sakura Matcha Pocky which uniquely combines both flavors of floral and earthy. It’s the best of both worlds!

You can find Sakura Matcha Pocky packs at convenience stores and supermarkets across Japan during spring season. Since these Pocky biscuit sticks are seasonally produced, it’s best to buy them immediately before they run out of stock!

Sakura Waffle

If you prefer waffles over pancakes, then there’s no need to worry – Sakura waffles do exist as well! However, these waffles are a little bit different. Instead of the usual soft and fluffy ones, these waffles are more on the biscuit side. They’re smaller yet crunchier, making them an easy snack to finish.

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Minamoto Kitchoan is a well-known Japanese confectionery brand specializing in wagashi and other snacks. Their Sakura Waffle consists of a crunchy pink dough kneaded with cherry blossom leaves, and cherry blossom-flavored cream is sandwiched. It’s definitely a snack you can enjoy during the spring!

Minamoto Kitchoan has a flagship store in Ginza where you can buy their Sakura Waffle snacks, and other delicacies found in their other dining establishments in the same building. They even have stores outside of Japan, with one located in the UK. In Japan, they also have their Kitchoan Museum.

Spring Hand-Baked Cheesecake

For those craving for cakes, the Spring Hand-Baked Cheesecake at Shiseido Parlour is highly recommended for sweet tooths! Located in the heart of Ginza, Tokyo, this historic patisserie is renowned for its exquisite cakes and desserts while using traditional Japanese flavors.

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Their Spring Hand-Baked Cheesecake features rich Danish cream cheese with a paste derived from cherry blossoms wrapped in a cherry blossom-scented biscuit made with domestic flour from Hokkaido wheat. This luxurious hand-baked cheesecake has a gentle peach pink-color and a scent that screams Sakura. Made with only the best of ingredients, this cheesecake boasts a creamy texture that melts in your mouth.

Don’t miss the opportunity to savor this exquisite Sakura-flavored creation and other delicious cakes at Shiseido Parlour, where they not only have their dessert cafe but also their bars, restaurant, and souvenir shop!

Sakura Chocolate

Attention to all chocolate lovers out there – make way for Sakura Chocolate! Most chocolate brands offer different variations of Sakura Chocolate, like Royce with their Nama Chocolate “Sakura Fromage,” a strawberry-flavored white chocolate blended with cream cheese, cherry blossoms, and strawberry liqueur.

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GODIVA, a multinational chocolatier, is known for their gourmet chocolate gifts and truffles that continue to be best-sellers in the chocolate industry since 1926. In Japan, GODIVA offers chocolate delicacies inspired by cherry trees such as their Sakura Chocolate Sables, Sakura Dome Baumkuchen Cakes, and Sakura Macarons. We also highly recommend their Sakura Chocolate Potato Chips!

The pale pink hue of the Sakura-infused chocolate reflects the delicate Sakura cherry blossoms that decorate Japan in spring. GODIVA has branches all over Japan, from Tokyo to Osaka and even Hyogo.

Sakura Ice Cream

Sakura ice cream is also one of the most popular treats that are highly sought for during spring season in Japan. It is made using cherry blossom petals and leaves, which are infused into the ice cream base to create a floral and slightly sweet taste with a hint of almond and cherry flavors.

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Most people who have eaten Sakura ice cream point out the delicate fragrance it has which matches its gentle taste that’s not too overpowering. It’s a gentle and smooth dessert that leaves a light and soothing sensation on your taste buds, perfect for the serenity Japan’s spring season brings.

In Japan, Sakura ice cream is typically found in specialty dessert shops, such as Azabu Juban Naniwaya located in Tokyo. Convenience stores and department store food halls also often carry Sakura ice cream, making it easily accessible for both locals and visitors eager to try it out.

Sakura Daifuku

If you’re wondering what Daifuku is, it is a Japanese traditional confectionery consisting of a small round mochi stuffed with sweet filling called anko, a sweetened red bean paste made from azuki beans. It’s sweet, handy, and chewy!

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These days, Daifuku comes in all sorts of colors and fillings, but the recipe remains almost the same. Besides anko, common Daifuku fillings include strawberry, soybeans, custard, and matcha. Some people use pickled cherry blossoms and integrate them into their filling, making Sakura Daifuku. Daifuku typically comes in white, pink, or pale green and can be eaten as is, or toasted lightly so the mochi becomes soft and sticky.

To find Sakura Daifuku, go to wagashi shops in Japan since they tend to offer it seasonally. In Tokyo, some of the best wagashi shops include Gunrindo, Akasaka Aono, Shiono, and Ikkuoan.

Softened Sakura Muretto

7-Eleven in Japan has always been known for providing a variety of unique Japanese snacks, drinks, and other sweet treats that will pique your interest. They have released a lineup of pink treats, ranging from Sakura Milk to Sakura Parfaits. In the same lineup, they also have their Softened Sakura Muretto.

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This treat draws inspiration from the traditional dorayaki, a classic Japanese confection consisting of a sweet red bean paste filling nestled between two round, pancake-like layers. Here we have a soft and fluffy Sakura-flavored pancake wrapped around a serving of the sweet bean paste and whipped cream, which gives it an extra richness. Adding pickled Sakura blossom delivers an intense Sakura flavor with the first bite, which gradually mellows to offer a harmonious blend of sweet creaminess.

As mentioned earlier, 7-Eleven sells Softened Sakura Muretto and other Sakura treats waiting for you to try out. There are tons of 7-Eleven branches found all over Japan, so finding these sweet treats will be a breeze!

Sakura Flavored KitKat

Last but not the least, we have one of the most iconic Sakura snacks in Japan: the Sakura Flavored KitKat. KitKat Japan is famous for creating different kinds of flavors, including green tea, strawberry, peach, and even sweet potato.

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The flavors of KitKat Japan are categorized by season. For example, during the summer, they have flavors such as Ocean Salt, Premium Mint, and Summer Ice Cream. In fall, they have Chestnuts, Apple Pie, and Mont Blanc. Now, let’s imagine what their Spring flavors sound like. You guessed it right – they’re all Sakura-themed! You can try out their Original Sakura, Sakura Mochi, Sakura Sake, Sakura Kinako, and Sakura Matcha.

These Sakura-flavored KitKats are a must-try for anyone curious to taste these distinctive flavors of cherry blossoms. You can find Sakura Flavored KitKats at various locations throughout Japan such as convenience stores, supermarkets, and even major airports in Japan. These KitKats make great souvenirs as you take home a piece of Japan with you.

Kickstart Your Sakura Culinary Adventure with Jetpac!

As you find yourself walking through the blossoming cherry trees of Japan during spring, make sure to ready up your tastebuds and embark on a culinary adventure filled with Sakura treats, dishes, and drinks! Discover the true essence of cherry blossom season by exploring these limited-edition Sakura food and drinks while they last.

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From Sakura mochi wrapped in salted cherry blossom leaves to Sakura-flavored teas and desserts, these seasonal delights capture the essence of cherry blossoms in every bite and sip. Navigate your way through Japan with the help of Jetpac to find the best spots for Sakura mochi, cherry blossom tea, and more.

Through Jetpac’s Japan e-SIM, you can celebrate cherry blossom season easily with seamless and reliable connectivity! Enjoy the season of Sakura flowers without any worry.