Momiji

Wagashi Making Workshop in London – Autumn Colours

/ Mutsumi / Leave a comment

Dear Wagashi Lovers,

The clock has just turned back to Winter time here in the UK and we are officially in Autumn now. When we talk about Autumn in Japan, the thing we cannot forget is ‘Momiji’ Japanese maple. Also as a part of British culture Guy Fawkes night, the 5th of November, is something significant for next month.

Wagashi Making Workshop – Autumn Colours

So, in next month’s Wagashi workshop we are going to create these three sweets.

  • ‘Momiji’ Japanese Maple
  • Fallen Leaf
  • Firework

Each piece has a different centre filling so you can enjoy the unique flavour in each sweet as well as the pretty creations.

*All of them are vegan and free from gluten & major allergy sources.

No experience is necessary. Come along with your friends and family for a fun and memorable afternoon.

[Details and Tickets] Please go to the detail page from here

See you there!

Japanese Maple in Autumn Colour

/ Mutsumi / 2 Comments

Day by day Autumn is setting in here in London. First thing which comes to my mind by thinking about Autumn is colour change in Leaves. It would defines as Autumn Colours so it should be the most significant part of this season. In Japan we have four completely different seasons. Warm & beautiful Spring with lots of Cherry blossom, very hot & humid Summer, very cold Winter with deep snow in some area and then … this Autumn. Our Autumn is very between summer and winter, but it is not just that. During the transition period between two totally different seasons a significant temperature change causes the beautiful Autumn Colour in leaves. The Nature is Science. It is amazing!

Japan is a very mountainous country and the sight of mountains in Autumn colour is so magnificent. It does not get defeated by the sight of marvellous view of Sakura, Cherry blossom in spring. We even have a word ‘Momiji-gari‘. ‘Momiji‘ is a Japanese word for Japanese Maple and ‘Gari/Kari‘ means Hunting. Well, we do not hunt/harvest Maple leaves literally but it means that we go out to the countryside to enjoy the amazing view of mountains which are covered in various colours in yellow to red.

The most famous plant with the leaves in Autumn colour is ‘Momiji‘, Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum). I thought it represents beautiful Autumn the most so I made my version of it as a sweet.

Japanese Maple, Momiji

japanese-maple-all3

Yes, we call the plant ‘Momiji‘ not ‘Emoji‘. Please don’t be confused.Β  πŸ˜€

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‘Manju’ in Autumn Theme

/ Mutsumi / 20 Comments

manjyu1

One of the things I was looking forward to when I went back to Japan was of course ‘Manju (γΎγ‚“γ˜γ‚…γ†)’ the Japanese sweet. I can make some by myself but I just wanted to try some very good ones that I cannot find in London.

manjyu3

As I mentioned previously in “the Taste of Autumn” we are sensitive to changing seasons in Japan and ‘Wagashi (ε’Œθ“ε­)’ the Japanese sweet is no exception. At the very beginning of Autumn the colour/pattern/ingredients of Japanese sweets have been already changed into Autumn theme.

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