Once you consider Japanese sweets, you may think crimson bean paste or cherry blossom-flavored treats. However within the Fukushima area, there’s a singular native dish with a particular taste and a heartfelt identify: Jyunenn botamochi. This text will let you know about this distinctive candy, its historical past, and the place you could find it.
What’s Jyunenn Botamochi?
Jyunenn botamochi (じゅうねんぼたもち) is a standard candy from Fukushima Prefecture. It’s a sort of botamochi, which is a spherical or oval rice cake made out of a combination of glutinous and non-glutinous rice. What makes it particular is its darkish, savory-sweet coating. As a substitute of the everyday crimson bean paste (anko), locals lined the Jyunenn botamochi in a paste made out of roasted and floor “jyunenn” seeds.
The identify “jyunenn” is a neighborhood time period for egoma, a kind of perilla seed. The identify “jyunenn” has two meanings. The primary is a want for good well being—the idea that consuming it will probably aid you stay ten years longer. The second which means refers back to the hardy nature of the seeds themselves, mentioned to have the ability to sprout even after a decade.
A Style of Historical past
The historical past of Jyunenn botamochi is tied to the Aizu area of Fukushima. Previously, it was troublesome to develop sesame seeds within the space’s mountainous terrain. As an answer, folks started to domesticate egoma as a alternative. The seeds had been used to make oil and had been additionally roasted and floor right into a paste for varied dishes.
Over time, this egoma paste grew to become a beloved topping for botamochi. In contrast to common botamochi, typically tied to the spring and autumn equinoxes, Jyunenn botamochi shouldn’t be in connection to a particular season. As a substitute, it’s a dish ready all year long to welcome company or as a comforting snack. Thus, it’s a style of the area’s resourceful previous, exhibiting how folks used native vegetation to create scrumptious and nourishing meals.
Discovering Jyunenn Botamochi in Japan
Anko to Ohagi Hibian (あんことおはぎ 日々餡)
If you end up within the Aizu-Wakamatsu space of Fukushima and need to do this distinctive dish, you possibly can go to a store that focuses on conventional sweets. A really helpful place is Anko to Ohagi Hibian (あんことおはぎ 日々餡). Moreover, the identify of the store itself, which suggests “Pink Bean Paste and Ohagi,” exhibits its deal with these sorts of sweets. This store is widespread for its number of scrumptious mochi and different conventional Japanese sweets, together with Jyunenn botamochi.
Conclusion
Jyunenn botamochi is greater than only a candy; it’s a small piece of Fukushima’s cultural heritage and a testomony to the native knowledge of turning easy elements right into a particular deal with. Its earthy, nutty taste, a results of the distinctive egoma seed, presents a special expertise from the everyday Japanese dessert.
If you happen to benefit from the comfortable texture and easy sweetness of this dish, you may additionally wish to attempt different related Japanese treats, corresponding to daifuku mochi, sakura mochi, or the nice and cozy and comforting oshiruko. Every of those dishes makes use of a mixture of sticky rice and a particular coating or filling, providing an identical style of Japan’s wealthy candy custom.
FAQ
- What’s Jūnen Botamochi?
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It’s a standard Japanese candy rice ball made with glutinous rice and candy crimson bean paste, flavored or coated with jūnen (perilla seeds, additionally referred to as egoma).
- What does “Jūnen” imply?
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“Jūnen” is one other identify for egoma, a kind of perilla seed. The identify means “ten years,” symbolizing well being and lengthy life.
- What makes Jūnen Botamochi particular?
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The nutty taste of roasted egoma seeds provides it a wealthy, fragrant style that’s totally different from common botamochi or ohagi.
- When is it often eaten?
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It’s typically loved throughout conventional holidays, particularly the spring equinox (Higan) or native festivals in northern Japan.
- The place can I attempt it in Japan?
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You could find it in components of Tohoku and northern areas corresponding to Fukushima and Yamagata, particularly at native sweets outlets or farmers’ markets.
- Is it candy or savory?
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It’s mildly candy, with a nutty, roasted taste from the egoma seeds.
- Is it vegetarian or vegan-friendly?
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Sure, it’s sometimes made out of rice, crimson beans, sugar, and egoma—no animal merchandise are used.
- Can I purchase it as a memento?
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Some shops promote it recent, however as a result of it doesn’t final lengthy, it’s finest eaten the identical day.
- How is it totally different from common botamochi?
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Common botamochi is roofed with candy crimson bean paste or soybean flour, whereas jūnen botamochi has a coating of floor perilla seeds for a singular taste.
- What does it style like?
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It has a pleasing mixture of candy and nutty flavors, with a chewy rice texture—easy however deeply satisfying.