1.
mugwort rice cake
A type of mochi made by kneading mugwort (よもぎ) into glutinous rice dough, giving it a distinctive green color and herbal aroma. Often filled with sweet red bean paste. A traditional springtime confection.
草餅を食べた。
I ate mugwort rice cake.
春になると草餅が店に並ぶ。
When spring comes, mugwort rice cakes appear in the shops.
祖母が庭で摘んだよもぎで草餅を作ってくれた。
My grandmother made mugwort rice cakes using mugwort she picked from the garden.
USAGE:
草餅 is a seasonal treat associated with 春 (spring), when fresh よもぎ (mugwort) is available. It is traditionally eaten around ひな祭り (Girls' Day, March 3). The 草 in the name refers specifically to mugwort, not grass in general.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 草餅を作る (make mugwort rice cakes)
- 草餅を焼く (grill mugwort rice cakes)
- あんこ入りの草餅 (mugwort rice cake with bean paste filling)
RELATED TERMS:
- よもぎ is mugwort, the herb used to flavor the mochi.
- 大福 is a similar mochi confection filled with bean paste but without mugwort.
- 柏餅 is another seasonal mochi eaten during Boys' Day in May.