Botamochi

Botamochi or ohagi is a sweet Japanese confection consisting of glutinous rice stuffed inside a ball of azuki bean paste. The name of this treat consists of two words: bota, which is derived from botan, meaning tree peony, and mochi, meaning sticky, pounded rice.

The shape of botamochi is supposed to resemble a tree peony flower. Although botamochi and ohagi are the same, botamochi is served in spring, while ohagi is served in autumn, and is supposed to resemble hagi, also known as bush clover flower.

These sweets are especially popular around spring and autumn equinox, when numerous Japanese people visit ancestral graves and make offerings such as flowers, incense, botamochi, and ohagi. There are some variations on the sweets, so they can also be coated with black sesame or toasted soy bean powder, depending on personal preferences.