FK6 Sarumochi, a Kyoto specialty from the Edo period
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Yoshie Doi
Until the Meiji era, the rice cakes of the teahouse “Saruya” in the precincts of Shimogamo Shrine were offered to the shrine at the time of the Aoi Matsuri. “Saruya” is a teahouse that has been revived for the first time in 140 years since the Edo period. In addition, there is no record of the recipe for Sarumochi, and it seems that Mr. Miyaji and the president of Hosendo made it by trial and error after reading the literature.
Like the Sarumochi in the photo, the elegant rice cake that is “Hanezu-colored: Crimson pale and beautiful color” is a color that is dyed in madder red in the moment when the early morning sun rises, which means the birth of life. A long time ago, azuki beans were planted on the four corners of the field to protect them from evil.
In the Edo period, they received this Sarumochi to cleanse themselves and pray for a disease-free life. Each small rice cake has its own history.
On Aoi Matsuri day, it is made small so that Saio can have a bite. The shape is designed so that she doesn’t have to open a big mouth.
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