Edible Art - Creating Awe-Inspiring Japanese Sweets - Henderson Edition 

Wagashi are prepared in an assortment of shapes, colors, and flavors. In fact, each of them reflects some other aspect of the culture and nature of Japan. The following are a few of the common types of wagashi usually served: 

1. Namagashi: These are fresh sweets usually made from sweetened red bean paste and wrapped up with a layer of soft mochi. Many namagashi exist which are famous for their detailed designs, mostly flower, bird, or seasonally shaped.

2. Manjū: These are steamed buns filled with sweet bean paste. Manjū usually take a round shape, but they may take any form, from animals down to fruits.

3. Dango: Sweet dumplings made with rice flour. Typically, dango are skewered and can range in anything from sakura flavored hanami dango to soy glazed mitarashi dango.

4. Yokan: This is a jellied dessert made using red bean paste, sugar, and agar. Yokan has a variety of flavors which could be induced into it, such as matcha and chestnuts, and its smooth firm texture makes it a favorite among all lovers of wagashi.

This laborious process needs an artistic eye, patience, and skill for making wagashi. The whole work begins with preparation of sweet bean paste, usually from azuki beans. The paste is colored and shaped to form the right design.

Exotic wagashi as such is closely connected with the change of season. Colors, shapes, and flavors stand for the seasonal motifs, starting with the spring cherry blossoms and ending with the autumn maple leaf. All this expresses the Japanese interest in nature and the movement of the time.

Wagashi is an important cultural element in Japan, closely combined with the Japanese tea ceremony and festivals for every season. It is also a pleasure not only for the tongue but also for the eyes, representing Japanese aesthetics of simplicity, subtlety, and congruity with nature.

During the tea ceremony, wagashi is used as a balance to the bitterness of matcha for a harmonious pairing. Sweets are also a common token of celebration and festivity, to wish well and show hospitality.

With their whimsical design and subtle fragrances, wagashi embodies Japan’s food as both an art and a craft. They reflect the nation’s cultural values from an appreciation of nature and its seasons to a pursuit of harmony and balance.

Further still, as we journey into this world through the things it eats, remember all dishes and ingredients have a story. The story of wagashi is one of those stories, a narrative which affords a peek into the heart of Japanese culture and aesthetics. The next time any of you taste a piece of wagashi, let your mind follow the journey of this edible art from the craftsman’s hand onto your plate.