In today’s episode, we apologize as we did not get to cover any food during this episode. Sacrilege! But it’s all worth it because Angel and Mik talk about the prettiest of flowers, the sakura. During the beginning of spring in Japan, they celebrate the hanami festivals, or flower viewing festivals all across the country, especially with the sakura trees! 

 

Meanwhile Angel and Mik contemplate on the philosophy of chaos, Angel eats a mysterious meal, and Mik tries to explain pasta while discovering his origins transforming to a cave troll. Angel also nearly falls off her chair. XD

 

Also here is the TikTok account that Mik mentions early in the episode: @khaby.lame

 

Also, please note there are sirens heard during the episode. 

 

00:00 Opening Song 

00:11 Show introduction

02:14 What’s in our palette?

08:30 Angel’s story of anime sakura mochi 

11:36 What is hanami?

12:30 Why celebrate sakura trees?

15:44 When is the sakura festival? 

16:49 The sakura zensen or the cherry blossom front

20:19 The importance of the sakura tree? IT’S PRETTY!

31:53 The most common sakura tree, the yoshino tree

32:49 Some other varieties of sakura trees

25:35 Is it healthy? Is it good?

28:25 What’s the next course?

 

Resources from today’s episode:

Wikipedia

“Hanami Festival” by Tourist Journey

“Japanese Cherry Blossom Festivals: Everything You Need to Know While Traveling for Hanami” bt JRPass
“Sakura Food & Drinks to Celebrate Cherry Blossom Season” by Gurunavi

“These cherry blossom hanami festivals in Tokyo are cancelled this year” by Kaila Imada

“2021 Cherry Blossom and Hanami in Japan” by Kyuhoshi

“10 Most Popular Sakura Varieties in Japan” by Kyuhoshi

“The History of Hanami: The Japanese Tradition of Cherry Blossom Viewing” by Amélie Geeraert

“Hanami Festival: Japanese traditions” by Shizuka

“Japan in Spring: Tips for Enjoying Cherry Blossom Festivals in Japan!” by Live Japan

“12 Popular Foods to Enjoy at Cherry Blossom Viewing” by Namiko Chen

“Cherry Blossom Viewing Guide: What to Eat at Hanami" by Aleli Dorado

“Planning A Hanami Picnic? A Recommended Menu To Make It A Hit” by Nupur Jena

“What's the Cultural Significance of Cherry Blossoms?” by Joseph Castro

“The Meaning of Cherry Blossoms in Japan: Life, Death and Renewal” by Helen

“The Taste of Sakura: Must-try Cherry Blossom Sweets in Kanazawa” by Kaname

 

Smörgåsbord Podcast is a show where we explore the rituals, myths and all things strange about the world of food. If you like what you hear, remember to subscribe to the show to get new episodes automatically downloaded to your device!

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