Mister Donut's limited-edition sakura and mochi-infused treats have been flying off shelves since they debuted in Japan on Feb. 28, 2024. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)
Japan’s most popular doughnut franchise promises to make you fly with four cherry blossom-themed treats this spring.
Sakura Mochitto Donut “Soaring” edition hit Mister Donut’s shelves on Feb. 28. Sakura, or cherry blossoms, are celebrated throughout Japan in March, when they generally begin to bloom.
Three of the doughnuts that debuted last year were designed according to the seasonal phases of blossoming cherry trees. This year, Mister Donut dropped in a new addition.
First in the lineup, the Sakura Mochitto Donut Tsubomi is a sakura and mochi-flavored doughnut topped with glaze and soybean flour. The brown color represents the first buds appearing on cherry trees. It costs 162 yen, about $1.08, for takeout and 165 yen when eating at the shop.
Mister Donut's limited-edition sakura and mochi-infused treats have been flying off shelves since they debuted in Japan on Feb. 28, 2024. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)
The second in the set is reminiscent of a half-bloomed tree, and in my opinion, the best tasting of the bunch. Strawberry-chocolate draped over one half, the other half sprinkled with powdered sugar and a layer of whipped cherry-red bean paste had my taste buds wanting more.
The mankai, or “full bloom,” and the new addition, maizakura, or “dancing cherry blossoms,” round out the set.
Mankai is covered with pink, sakura-flavored chocolate flakes, reminiscent of full-color petals.
Dancing cherry blossoms are painted on one side of the sweet pastry like flowers that begin blowing off the trees at the end of their spring cycle.
This doughnut has an inside layer of Hokkaido azuki beans and is artistically painted with streaks of milk chocolate over white chocolate and sprinkled with sakura-flavored chocolate flakes.
Mister Donut's limited-edition sakura and mochi-infused treats have been flying off shelves since they debuted in Japan on Feb. 28, 2024. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)
I had no issues devouring a sample of three out of four of the doughnuts and enjoyed the added chewiness from the mochi. It did not distract from the rest of the doughnut flavors and was definitely sweet enough.
The Tsubomi costs 162 yen, about $1.08, for takeout. The others are 183 yen. A box of all four, dubbed the Cherry Blossom Full Enjoyment Set, is 711 yen.
The offer ends based on each store’s product supply, according to the company’s website.
