🍱 Hina Manju (Spring Steamed Bun)

In the center of the prefecture, the land along the Kitakami River is flat, and various kinds of crops, like rice, wheat, barley and buckwheat, have been grown. That made the locals develop many dishes using flour made from these crops. "Hina Manju" is also called "Hana Manju" or "Hana Dango", and made from rice flour stuffed with red bean paste, then shaped like flowers, peaches, leave or rabbits. It is served with "Kirisensho" on the Girl's festival on March 3rd. It was also served during memorial services or "Higan" equinox in some areas. Osako cho in Hanamaki City used to prosper as an inn town connected to Sanriku area and Morioka, and many valuable Hina Dolls inherited since Edo Era are still kept. There was a custom that children were walking along the houses saying “Please show us your Hina Dolls” and saw the dolls, then got "Hina Manju" during the Girl's festival season. Every home prepared many ‘Hina Manju' to give them to children and relatives.