SAKURA

Sakura—the beloved cherry blossoms that symbolize the coming of spring in Japan. More than just eye candy, the blossoms and leaves are also salted and consumed. Sakura farmers scramble up trees to collect the best ones before everything falls to the ground. Reporter Saskia lends a hand before visiting a 300-year-old sweets shop depicted in woodblock prints to find out more about the flower's culinary roots. She also meets an individual responsible for the popularization of sakura as a flavor.