🍡 Junen-botamochi

Fukushima Prefecture is a famous producer of "Egoma" (Perilla). It is said that the history of "Egoma" dates back to before the Meiji Era (1868-1912), and it has been cultivated for a long time. “Egoma” is called "Junen" in the prefecture. It is said that the name "Junen" comes from the fact that “Egoma” is so nutritious that people are said to live ten years longer after eating it, and that the harvested seeds will sprout even after ten years if they are sown. In Fukushima Prefecture, it is popular as a health food, and there are many local dishes that use Junen. One of the most famous dishes is “Junen-botamochi.” The glutinous rice is rolled into a bite-size ball and covered with roasted and Sugar-sweetened Junen. The characteristic of this dish is that botamochi is usually wrapped in ”an” red bean paste or “kinako” soybean flour, but it is made with “Junen.” The roasted “Junen” gives the mochi a rich aroma and flavor.