Spring is on its way and in Japan the pink floodgates have opened. The stream of sakura inspired goods have already started flowing our way and are making us excited for the season to come.

Famous products such as the spring Coca-Cola bottle, Sakura McDonalds menu and others have become seasonal classics. But if the modern-day, consumerist takes on hanami leave a bad taste in your mouth, these beautiful cherry blossom jellies are much more in keeping with traditional Japanese aesthetics.

Similar confections can be found elsewhere, but the originator is an Akita sweets maker called Eitaro from Akita prefecture, which dates all the way back to the Meiji Era. It’s sixteen years since they first created the aesthetically pleasing cherry blossom jelly, but it has gained attention in recent years both in Japan and overseas for its almost magical appearance.

Eitaro’s handmade sweets contain a domestically grown blooming cherry blossom, confined in the jelly. The flower is pickled in order to preserve it, then honey is added for sweetness. The translucent jelly is slightly pink and flavoured with cherry blossom liqueur.

These special jellies are only around for a short time, albeit longer than the cherry blossoms themselves, until the end of August.

A new addition this year is the pretty spherical packaging encasing two jellies, which would make a lovely floral springtime gift.

But the sweets can also be bought individually or in bigger sets. This season’s blossoming jellies can be bought online, in Eitaro stores or in Akita train station and airport. Otherwise, they can be picked up in some department stores.