Celebrating Japanese Cherry Blossom

Posted on April 29, 2016

The beginning of spring is often noted with the burst of new flowers. In Japan, the ritual of Hanami, which is the act of enjoying flowers in particular the cherry blossom, marks the turn of the season. At aqua kyoto we are taking the time to appreciate this iconic flower and have created a menu that celebrates this blossom. Each dish is available individually or served as a fragrant and balanced menu.

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Creating a cocktail is all about finding inspiration, and having the beautiful bloom of the cherry blossom was a wonderful way to begin. Bar manager Nicholas Peratinos wanted to capture the beauty of the flower, the delicate touch of the petal.

A key element of this cocktail was the pear sake, connecting the drink to traditional Japanese roots; and then with a touch of marasca cherry syrup for a hint of sweetness and a hue of pink. A squeeze of lime and tanquery gin brings a freshness to the drink. Lastly, the delicacy of the cherry blossom, a bloom that is effervescent and fleeting, is created through splash of pink on edible rice paper that dissolves on your tongue. A drink that is an excellent homage to this beautiful spring flower.

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The delicate ‘Sakura’ cherry blossom is a stunning, visual transition from a cold winter to an exciting and energising spring, that sweeps across Japan, which we have hoped to capture in our cherry blossom installation.

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