Baked Green Tea & Red Bean Cheesecake

I've mentioned before I wasn't a big fan of green tea for sweets & cakes.

I've changed since the trip to Paris last year & I've tried 'Bamboo' the green tea entremet from Sadaharu Aoki.

It has been a while since then that I made anything of green tea flavour.

Simply because I have a long baking list & as a chocoholic, most of them are chocolate.

Matcha Mont Blanc

I wanted to join the Matcha Madness held by Catty, so I made these Matcha Mont Blanc.

Matcha Mont Blanc is the one I always like to try, I have to say I need more practice with my icing kit as I made a mess with the chestnut puree.

I realised my family don't fancy matcha flavoured desserts after I made these.

Although we drink green tea every day, I think we prefer matcha for beverage only.

It's rich in chestnut & azuki bean flavour, & also a subtle sense of matcha blended nicely with chestnut.

Japanese Wagashi ~和菓子~

After going to Holland Park, I felt like making some Japanse wagashi.
Wagashi is traditional Japanese confectionary, many made of glutinous rice & azuki bean paste. 
Earlier in April, I salt-pickled some cherry blossoms & I haven't been using them yet. 
I did try making cherry blossom tea, I think the taste was somehow disappointing, not as elegant as I thought. 
But it was a pleasure to see the flower blossoming in the water. 
Also, the flowers will be great for cake decorating.