Shizuoka's food cultureKnow

When spring comes, we suddenly start to miss sakura mochi. The cherry blossom leaves that wrap the soft mochi are7Did you know that sakura leaves are made in Matsuzaki Town in Nishiizu? As you walk around town, you'll see sweets and dishes made with cherry leaves everywhere. This time, we visited Matsuzaki Town in search of the hidden charms of cherry leaves and the special flavors that can only be enjoyed here.

Matsuzaki Town, Kamo County, located on the west side of the Izu Peninsula. This town, where the sun sets over a calm cove, has another little-known side to it: it is Japan's number one producer of cherry blossom leaves, an essential ingredient in Japanese sweets. The majority of the cherry blossom leaves distributed nationwide are produced in this town.

Originally, "Sakuraba" was made by pickling cherry blossom leaves in salt.600It is said that there are more than 100 types of cherry blossoms, but the one that is actually used is the Oshima cherry. It came to be used because its leaves are free of fine hairs and have a pleasant texture.

The history of "Sakuraba" is long, dating back to the Edo period.1717It began when Shinroku Yamamoto, who worked for Chomyoji Temple in Mukojima, Tokyo, began wrapping mochi in salted cherry leaves in 1868. Later, at the end of the Meiji period, a movement to use mountain cherry leaves began in Minami Izu, and eventually spread to Matsuzaki Town.

Marugo Foods, a long-established manufacturer of pickled leaves3The next generation owner, Goto Shizuo, is one of the people who knows the history of this town well.

"It was during the Showa period that we began to order Oshima cherry blossom seeds from Izu Oshima and grow them from seedlings.30This was around the 1980s. Everyone shared their knowledge and ingenuity in growing the fruit, and by joining forces, they built up this production area."

In the past, Matsuzaki Town's main industry was making charcoal in the mountains.24Around the year 1940, after the war, restrictions on sugar were lifted and Japanese sweets making became popular again across the country, causing a sudden increase in demand for sakura leaves. The townspeople were quick to take notice of sakura leaves, and they pinned their hopes on cultivating cherry blossoms as a new livelihood in their hometown.

As he walked through the pruned trees in the fields where cherry blossom leaves are harvested, he continued:

"The cherry trees here are edible, so they don't bloom. The branches are trimmed short every winter so that they can be easily picked by hand. By keeping the trees short like this, we can work efficiently without using tall ladders."

It is completely different from ornamental plants that are used to admire beautiful flowers."Cherry Blossoms"There was the figure of

*Photo: Matsuzaki Town

The harvest time is4From the moon9Over the course of a month, producers carefully pick only the best young leaves, checking each one for signs of insect damage or other damage.

Marugo Foods, run by Mr. Goto, was founded80The company has been in business for over 20 years and mainly produces pickled cherry leaves for wholesale and commercial use. We were given a special tour of the factory.

Inside the factory, rows of plastic barrels and containers are lined up. Huge wooden barrels were once the norm, but these containers are now the norm due to the ease of quality control.

*Photo: Beautiful Izu Creation Center (Inc.)

Under the producer50The leaves are bundled together and delivered to the factory by the next day. The process of bundling the leaves and tying them together with natural, durable string made from kaya is traditionally called "maruke" in Matsuzaki.

Once the maruke arrives at the factory, they are arranged in concentric circles and salt is sprinkled evenly on top. This process is repeated until5~6The cherry blossom leaves are slowly pickled over a period of months to complete the process.

The pickled cherry leaves are carefully vacuum-packed using special machines and sent to major confectionery and food manufacturers across the country.

 Matured Sakuraba has a beautiful tortoiseshell color, and boasts an elegant fragrance and a uniform shape without a single blemish, making it a truly exceptional product.

Incidentally, the unique scent of cherry blossom leaves is actually an organic compound called coumarin. Surprisingly, this scent is barely present in the raw leaves swaying on the branches. The aroma is only born after the salting process, which breaks down the cell membranes and allows the leaves to slowly mature.

 If you visit Matsuzaki Town, you can't miss out on the sweets made with cherry blossom leaves.6Baigetsuen is a long-established Japanese and Western confectionery shop founded in .

 The specialty is undoubtedly the "Sakura Leaf Mochi." Although it is generally called "Sakura Mochi," Baigetsuen and other stores in Matsuzaki Town deliberately write it as "Sakura Leaf Mochi," adding the character "ha" (leaf).

It is imbued with the pride that only a region of production can have, knowing that the leaves they have lovingly cultivated are the star of the show.

 Craftsman Masashi Seto showed us how to make Sakuraha Mochi. Using an old-fashioned machine, he thinly stretches the rice flour dough that will become the mochi skin and cuts it into uniform sizes.

Next comes the artisan's skill: the smooth bean paste is wrapped in soft dough and each one is hand-shaped into a long, thin shape.

To finish, salted cherry leaves from Matsuzaki2Just stack the pieces and wrap them up to complete the treat. The chewy skin and elegant aroma come together.1931This is a signature product that has been loved since the company was founded in 1990.

Baigetsuen also offers other sweets that use cherry blossom leaves.10There are over 100 varieties on offer, including moist pound cake, financiers with the aroma of butter and cherry blossoms, and crispy cookies, in a lineup that transcends the boundaries of Japanese and Western.

One of the most eye-catching items is the "Matchi Cookies" featuring Matsuzaki Town's character and cherry blossom leaves. Not only are they adorable, but they are individually wrapped, making them perfect as gifts or souvenirs.

 There are other ways to enjoy sakura leaves besides sweets. The roadside station "Hana no Sanseien Izu Matsuzaki" is known for its highly popular "Sakura Leaf Soba."

The dried noodle type is light and easy to carry home, and it also has the added benefit of lasting a long time. You can actually try this soba at the restaurant "Amagi Sanbo" located inside the roadside station.

Another must-try item at the Sakurada Yorimichi Shop, where local produce is gathered, is the homemade Sakuraba Konjac, a unique product that captures the aroma of cherry leaves and can only be found in the area where it is produced.

Konjac kneaded with cherry blossom leaves has a subtle cherry blossom scent and the soft, bouncy texture of the konjac, creating an exquisite accent.

Furthermore, the store has a "Maruke (50They can be purchased as souvenirs in a bundle of sheets. You can re-roll commercially available Japanese sweets, tear them into pieces and add them to your ochazuke at home, or serve them as a snack with alcohol. Depending on your imagination, there are endless ways to enjoy them.

The joys of sakura leaves are not limited to sweets and noodles. At Asai Meat, which has been in business since the early Showa period, the ever-popular "Sakura Leaf Pork Miso Marinated" is made with sakura leaves.

1They can be purchased individually and are vacuum-packed, so you can easily take home just the amount you need. They make a great treat for yourself or a souvenir for someone special.

 "Sakura Leaf Pork Miso Marinated" becomes a wonderful main dish just by frying it in a frying pan. The moment you put it in your mouth, the flavor of the special miso and cherry leaves spreads slowly, perfectly matching the juicy meat. It's strong yet has a light aftertaste! It's so delicious you won't be able to stop eating it.

Furthermore, the stage for their success has expanded beyond Matsuzaki Town. Matsuzaki cherry leaves are also used in the Japanese black tea made by Takezawa Tea in Shizuoka City. If you come across them, don't hesitate to pick one up. Why not enjoy a luxurious tea time with a cup of tea that is softly filled with the scent of cherry blossoms?

Matsuzaki Town is a place where you can find amazing cherry blossom gourmet food, from sweets to general foods. The famous "Sakura Leaf Mochi" can be enjoyed any time of the year, not just in spring. Be sure to visit Matsuzaki Town and experience its rich aroma.