is a variety of wagashi

Wagashi

is a traditional Japanese confectionery which is often served with tea, especially the types made of mochi, azuki bean paste, and fruits.Wagashi is typically made from natural ingredients...

, or Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese confectionery

Confectionery

Confectionery is the set of food items that are rich in sugar, any one or type of which is called a confection. Modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well...

 consisting of a sweet pink mochi

Mochi

Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice pounded into paste and molded into shape. In Japan it is traditionally made in a ceremony called mochitsuki. While also eaten year-round, mochi is a traditional food for the Japanese New Year and is commonly sold and eaten during that time...

 (rice cake

Rice cake

A rice cake may be any kind of food item made from rice that has been shaped, condensed, or otherwise combined into a single object. A wide variety of rice cakes exist in many different cultures in which rice is eaten, and are particularly prevalent in Asia. The origin of rice cake seems to be...

) and red bean paste

Red bean paste

Red bean paste or Azuki bean paste is a sweet, dark red bean paste originating from China. It is used in Chinese cuisine, Japanese confectionery, and Korean cuisine. It is prepared by boiling and mashing azuki beans and then sweetening the paste with sugar or honey...

, covered with a leaf of sakura

Sakura

A cherry blossom is the flower of any of several trees of genus Prunus, particularly the Japanese Cherry, Prunus serrulata, which is sometimes called sakura after the Japanese . Many of the varieties that have been cultivated for ornamental use do not produce fruit...

(cherry blossom).

The style of sakuramochi differs from the regions in Japan. Basically, the east of Japan such as Tokyo

Tokyo

, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

 uses and the west side such as Kansai

Kansai

The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, and Shiga. Depending on who makes the distinction, Fukui, Tokushima and even Tottori Prefecture are also included...

 uses for batter.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup glutinous rice flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 3/4 cup red bean paste
  Red bean paste
  Red bean paste or Azuki bean paste is a sweet, dark red bean paste originating from China. It is used in Chinese cuisine, Japanese confectionery, and Korean cuisine. It is prepared by boiling and mashing azuki beans and then sweetening the paste with sugar or honey...
  
  
• red food coloring (optional)
• 8 sakura leaves pickled in salted water

Preparation

Wash pickled sakura leaves and dry. Boil water in a pan. Mix glutinous flour in the water. Cover the pan with a lid and leave it for 5 minutes. Place a wet cloth in a steamer and put the dough on the cloth. Steam the dough for about 20 minutes over medium heat. Remove the steamed dough to a bowl. Mash the dough slightly with a wooden pestle, mixing sugar into the dough. Dissolve a little bit of red food color in some water. Add some of the red water in the dough and mix well. Divide the pink mochi into 8 balls. Flatten each mochi ball by hand and place red bean paste filling on the dough. Wrap the filling with mochi and round by hand. Wrap each mochi with a sakura leaf.

Girl's Day

Sakuramochi is traditionally eaten on Girl's Day (also known as Hinamatsuri

Hinamatsuri

The Japanese , or Girls' Day, is held on March 3. Platforms covered with a red carpet are used to display a set of representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian period.- Origin and customs :...

) in Japan, on March 3rd.