Umegae Mochi

Umegae mochi is made with a blend of glutinous and non-glutinous rice dough, filled with azuki bean paste, and baked to a golden brown. It is a famous specialty sweet of Dazaifu with a plum blossom brand. The origin of the name is said to be a story about an old woman (Jomyo-ni) who felt sorry for Lord Michizane Sugawara and gave him a rice cake with a plum branch attached to it when he was in distress due to being transferred to Dazaifu.
Around 30 stores line the approach to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, and the area is filled with the sweet aroma of freshly baked mochi. The outside is crispy and fragrant, and the inside is filled with smooth and refined sweet red bean paste. As they are made with rice flour, azuki beans, sugar, salt, and vegetable oil, even vegetarians can enjoy them with peace of mind.
There are also limited-edition Umegae mochi that only appear twice a month! On the 17th of each month, “Kyuhaku Day,” mochi made with ancient rice (black rice), which is connected to the Kyushu National Museum, is sold, and on the 25th of each month, “Tenjin-sama Day,” the birthday and death anniversary of Michizane, umegae mochi made with mugwort is sold.
You can eat the mochi as takeaway while strolling around, or enjoy it in a store with green tea or coffee. It is also recommended to go around the approach to the shrine and compare the slightly different tastes of each store.