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Spring in Japan isn’t just about cherry blossoms on trees; it’s also when sakura-flavored sweets begin filling store shelves. The open secret is that many of these pink-hued treats are made using last year’s cherry blossoms — which is also why cherry blossom beer can appear weeks before the flowers actually bloom.
Because sakura only bloom for a week or two, petals and leaves are traditionally preserved in salt and used months later. That means while the blossoms can’t be rushed, sakura-flavored food and drinks don’t have to wait for spring to fully arrive — beer included.
A Sakura Beer That Uses the Real Thing
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This month, Kanagawa Prefecture’s Sankt Gallen brewery is rolling out this year’s batch of its seasonal Sankt Gallen Sakura beer. Unlike some seasonal releases that rely mostly on cherry blossom imagery, this brew uses actual salt-preserved sakura petals and cherry blossom tree leaves in the brewing process.
The petals and leaves are carefully rinsed the day before brewing to remove excess salt, but they still lend a gently sweet, slightly salty, and softly floral character that feels unmistakably spring-like.
More Than Just Cherry Blossoms in the Brew
Cherry blossoms aren’t the only Japanese ingredient at work here. Alongside barley and wheat malt — the latter included for a smoother mouthfeel — the beer also features Rakufumai, a type of rice grown in Ebina, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Rakufumai isn’t cultivated for eating, but specifically for sake brewing, and its presence adds a delicate sweetness to the beer. Combined with the brew’s relatively low bitterness compared to Sankt Gallen’s stronger hop-forward offerings, the result is a refreshing, easygoing beer well-suited to the warming days ahead.
Spring Flavor, No Warm Weather Required
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That said, there’s no need to wait for a perfect hanami afternoon to crack one open. Sankt Gallen Sakura goes on sale February 19, with an alcohol content of 5 percent and a mild bitterness of 17 IBUs. Each bottle is priced at 539 yen ($3.46 USD) and will be available through the brewery’s online store.
Cherry blossoms may still be weeks away, but in Japan, spring has already started flowing — one bottle at a time.
