Sakura Daikon: Pickled Radish Dagashi Snack from Yaokin
While Ume serves as a flavoring, Sakura sometimes lends its name to food with a pink color, as many Japanese people associate pink with the spring blossom.
That’s the case with this Dagashi pickle snack named Sakura Daikon (さくら大根), which I guess got its name from its Sakura-like eye-catching pink appearance.
Yaokin Sakura Daikon
The treat Sakura Daikon (Price: 60 yen) is one of the Dagashi classics sold by Yaokin, consisting of slices (2 pcs) of pickled radish.
A now-defunct food company named Miyama created it by accident around 1957, and in 2019, Tochigi Sano-based Endo Foods took over the manufacturing.
The name of this snack includes Sakura (さくら), but unlike Sakura Zuke, this Dagashi treat doesn’t contain cherry blossom-related ingredients.
Instead, it uses sweet vinegar in the pickling process, which unexpectedly brings out the best from the Daikon radish.
Yaokin Sakura Daikon is originally a Dagashi for children but tastes much better than it sounds.
Moreover, it is so well-pickled with a firm and pleasantly crunchy texture that I think even picky Tsukemono lovers can like this.
Ingredients/Nutrition Facts
| Daikon radish (made in China), Salt, Brewed vinegar, Acidifier, Amino acid seasoning, Sodium metaphosphate, Sweeteners (Acesulfame K, Aspartame, L-phenylalanine compound), Vitamin B1, Potassium sorbate, Color (Red No.102) |
Nutritional Values
| Calories | 15 kcal |
| Protein | 0.4 g |
| Fat | 0.1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 3.4 g |
| Salt equivalents | 2.8 g |
