07 Apr / Pickled Cherry Blossom Sushi Rice Balls and Hanami Time!
After all the snow and freezing cold temps we’ve been having, I never thought I’d see the end of winter. But spring is finally here and the cherry blossoms blooming outside my window are proof of it!
And that means it’s time for hanami.
Cherry blossoms abloom in Washington D.C. and framing the National Monument.
Hanami—or flower viewing–is an ancient Japanese tradition. Picnickers throng neighborhood parks and the countryside to bask in the warmer weather and enjoy blooming cherry blossoms (sakura), and also plum blossoms (ume).
In Japan, hanami season ranges from mid-March to early May, moving south to north as warmer temperatures trigger trees to begin blooming. You can follow the slow-moving cherry blossom front (sakura-zensen) which is tracked by the Japan Weather Association. The last chance to enjoy the blossoms is typically in the north in places like Sapporo.
Even in the U.S., there are places for hanami. Here in the Washington D.C. area, the National Cherry Blossom Festival has commenced and peak viewing is slated for April 11 to 14. In Seattle, my parents snapped their requisite hanami photos at the University of Washington campus several weeks ago.
Why all this excitement over cherry blossoms? Well, for one thing, the pink and white clusters are an absolute delightful to behold. And who doesn’t love an excuse to go on a picnic and drink sake? But also because cherry blossoms stay in bloom for barely two weeks, their fleeting beauty has become symbolic of the impermanence of beauty. The Japanese concept of mono no aware, the wistful realization that nothing lasts forever, is often depicted by cherry blossoms.
These pickled cherry blossoms have been soaked to remove excess salt and are drying on a paper towel.
To welcome spring and the arrival of cherry blossoms, I was inspired to make my friend Debra Samuel’s rice balls (read about her experience making pickled cherry blossoms on her blog here).
Go ahead, why don’t you try it? Pickled cherry blossom rice balls and mochiko fried chicken make a wonderful addition to your picnic basket or bento for your hanami adventure!
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Is there a special place in your part of the world where you go for hanami?
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[yumprint-recipe id=’4′]