Popular Types of Wagashi
Yokan
Yokan is a Japanese traditional sweet that is often served with green tea. Made from red bean paste, agar, and sugar, it often comes in a large, firm jelly-type block and is eaten in slices. Popular flavors are sweet beans, matcha or fruits like yuzu.
Some yokan include a filling, such as chestnuts, beans, or chopped up fruits.
Mochi
Mochi refers to Japanese rice cakes, which come in a large variety of colors and flavors. Standard mochi are white and filled with sweet bean paste. Yomogi Mochi, (kusa mochi) is made with Japanese mugwort, which adds a green color and nutrients. Sakura Mochi is made from cherry blossoms. Kashiwa Mochi are mochi wrapped in oak leaf, adding a unique aroma and flavor.
Nerikiri
Nerikiri is a very sweet type of chewy mochi, that is often served with bitter matcha. The sweets are both delicious and beautiful, with designs reflecting the season, nature and animals or foods. They are very colorful, using colors from natural ingredients like tea powder, sakura, bean paste or cocoa. They make for beautiful gifts and are fun to make.