The Flavors of Spring in Japan

Spring is finally here in Japan and if you can’t tell, I’m very excited about it! It has been a long cold winter here in Japan and spring brings with it the promise of warmer weather and the beautiful cherry blossoms. The cherry blossoms usually make their appearance here in Gifu in late March and early April. You can read my post about the must see Cherry Blossom Spots in Gifu.

This time of year also sees a lot of interesting and delicious spring or cherry blossom inspired food and drinks in Japan. A few of my favourites so far have been:

Sakura Cream Doughnut from Krispy Kreme 

The Sakura Cream Doughnut from Krispy Kreme Japan featured Sakura (Cherry Blossom) icing with Sakura cream inside the doughnut.

Sakura Cream Doughnut

Haagen Dazs Sakura Ice Cream 

Haagen Dazs Sakura Ice Cream was released to celebrate Haagen Dazs’s 30th anniversary in Japan. It was really tasty and featured powdered cherry blossom petals with the ice cream topped with a sour cherry sauce.

Haagen-Dazs Sakura Ice Cream

Starbucks Sakura White Chocolate Latte 

Starbucks Sakura White Chocolate Latte made its comeback in early spring. This favourite of Japan Australia’s features white chocolate and includes real sakura petals and leaves. This year it also came with a strawberry flavoured topping along with pink strawberry infused whipped cream.

Starbucks Sakura White Chocolate Latte

McDonald’s Sakura Teritama Burger 

The Sakura Teritama Burger also affectionately known as the “Cherry Blossom Burger” was a cherry blossom version of the popular spring seasonal burger the “Teritama”. The new burger featured a fried egg, ginger teriyaki pork patty, lettuce, and sakura daikon radish mayonnaise sauce, all inside pink cherry blossom buns.

Sakura Teritama Burger

Sakura & Sakuranbo Chuhi 

The Sakura & Sakuranbo (Cherry) Chuhi is a favourite spring drink here at Japan Australia. Chuhi is a popular acholohic drink in Japan made from shochu and carbonated water. This one is flavoured with Sakura (Cherry Blossom) and Sakuranbo (Cherry).

Sakura and Sakuranbo Chuhi

Haru Ichigo Chuhi 

Another spring favourite Chuhi that features Haru or Spring Ichigo (Strawberry).

Haru Ichigo Chuhi

Do you have a favourite Spring seasonal food or drink in Japan?