, a combination of the kanji for celebration "su" (
寿) and sweet "ama" (
甘) is a
Japanese sweet made of
non-glutinous rice flour, hot water, and sugar characterized by its red food dye. It is dyed red, because red and white symbolize celebration in Japanese tradition. It is kneaded and then optionally shaped by a sushi rolling mat (''sudare''), which gives the final product a textured, slightly bumpy surface.
Suama is similar to, but not the same as, two other rice-based Japanese snacks, ''
mochi
is a Japanese rice cake made of , a short-grain japonica glutinous rice, and sometimes other ingredients such as water, sugar, and cornstarch. The rice is pounded into paste and molded into the desired shape. In Japan, it is traditionally ma ...
'' and ''
uirō
''Uirō'' (Japanese: , , ), also known as , is a traditional Japanese steamed cake made of glutinous rice flour and sugar. It is chewy, similar to ''mochi'', and subtly sweet. Flavors include azuki bean paste, green tea (matcha), ''yuzu'', ...
''. ''Mochi'' uses glutinous rice flour; while ''uirō'' is not kneaded, but rather mixed, placed in a mold, and steamed.
See also
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Japanese cuisine
Japanese cuisine encompasses the regional and traditional foods of Japan, which have developed through centuries of political, economic, and social changes. The traditional cuisine of Japan (Japanese: ) is based on rice with miso soup and other ...
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Wagashi
are traditional Japanese confections that are often served with green tea, especially the types made of ''mochi'', ''anko'' (azuki bean paste), and fruit. ''Wagashi'' are typically made from plant-based ingredients.
History
In Japan, the wor ...
References
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Wagashi