🍱 Inarizushi
The Tsugaru Plain has a relatively mild climate for a snow country, and rice cultivation is said to have been practiced since the late “Jomon” period (about 3,000 years ago), which led to the development of rice culture. Successive lords of the Tsugaru domain also put a lot of effort into developing new rice fields, which resulted in a large amount of rice production. "Inarizushi" in general refers to a dish where vinegared rice or glutinous rice is stuffed inside sweet and savory fried tofu pouches. However, the "Inarizushi" in Aomori Prefecture, specifically in the Tsugaru region, is quite unique. The most distinctive feature is the pink color of the vinegared rice. This is because red pickled ginger is chopped and mixed into the rice, and sometimes red food coloring is added to make it even redder. The rice is 100% glutinous rice (sometimes mixed with Short-grain rice), and the seasoning is quite sweet due to the generous use of coarse sugar. It is also chewy and gives the impression of “O-hagi” (Sweet azuki bean rice cakes). The red color indicates good luck, and the sweetness indicates hospitality. It is thought that in the old days, when sugar was precious and expensive, the custom of using plenty of sugar to sweeten food for gatherings and festive occasions remains today.