"Sakura Sweet Sakura"

One of my favorite Shops in New York is "Minamoto Kitchoan" in Rockefeller Center.  I mentioned this name of the shop more than a few times in my blogs before.  This is the shop for me to go to get Japanese Sweets.  
They have so many kinds of  "Wagashi (Traditional Japanese Sweets)" and even some Western influenced Sweets.
Traditional Japanese Sweets do not contain Butter or Milk.  Basically they are made of Rice Flour & Sweet Bean Paste.  Often they are shaped like things found in Nature.  They are perfect company for Green Tea.  After all, they were created to serve for the Tea Ceremony.  "Macha" is a bitter Tea Powder made from Green Tea Leaves used for the Tea Ceremony.  You need something sweet to balance your palette.
As I said in previous Blogs, Japanese have a thing about "Sakura".  
In the springtime we will have many Sakura-flavored "Wagashi"  I bet many of you never thought of "Sakura" for eating.  But we Japanese have enjoyed the flavor of those Pink Cherry Blossoms throughout the years.  Once you tasted them you will know why Japanese keep making precious things with "Sakura"
After I blogged about "Sakura" I got the urge to go get some of those sweets to have with Green Tea on a sunny March afternoon, even thought Sakura is not showing signs of blooming yet.....

This is "Minamoto Kitchoan" in Rockefeller Center.

As you can see, the place is filled with Japanese Sweets.

Those sweets are "Seasonable Items."

Every month they have something special for you to try.

This month is all about "Sakura"

"Sakura Daifuku"

Sweet Kidney Bean Paste covered with Gluey Rice Flour Dough.

Outer layer is flavored and colored with Cherry Blossom Liqueur.

"Sakura Mochi"

Sweet Red Bean Paste covered with Sticky Rice Cake.

Topped with Salted Cherry Blossom, then wrapped with Salted Cherry Leaf.

YES, we Japanese do eat Cherry Leaves & Blossoms. 

"Sakuranbo (Cherry)"

Cherry-flavored Jelly.  You will find a Sweet Cherry inside.

"Sakura Shigure"

Sweet Kidney Bean Paste covered with Wheat Flour Cake.

The Cake is flavored with Cherry Leaf Extract.

This one is also decorated with Salted Cherry Blossom.

Perfect accompaniment for Sweets is Green Tea.

Cast Iron Tea-Pot has a Cherry Blossom Pattern.

The Tea Canister is made of Cherry Tree Bark.

Inner seal is very tight, it will keep tea fresh for a very long time.

Tea scoop is made of Cherry Bark as well.

Of course I bought them in Japan.  

"Sakura Higashi"

Higashi means Dry Sweets, mainly made of Sweetened Rice Flour.

It comes in many Shapes, this one is Cherry Blossoms & Buds.

A Friend in Tokyo sent this to me.

They are too pretty to eat, aren't they ?

Pink Plastic Sheet is wrapper for the "Higashi"

Two Sakura Printed Wrapping Paper are from Jonathan's Paper Archives.

By the way.

I found two more pictures of "Sakura" today.

So, I added to my blog "Sakura Sakura"

Take a look at that page again !

You tell me which ones are the new additions.