What is momijimanju?

Momijimanju is a traditional Japanese sweet made with red bean paste and wheat flour dough in the shape of maple leaves, which are deep-fried until they become crispy outside and soft inside. It is a popular treat during the autumn season when the maple tree leaves change their color and fall off. Legend has it that the idea for Momijimanju came from a group of Japanese feudal lords who visited a Buddhist temple in Hiroshima in 1618. The lords brought back a local dish, which was a sweet made from adzuki bean paste and wheat flour, and transformed it into the present-day form resembling maple leaves. Today, Momijimanju is sold in shops all around Japan, and it is considered a must-try delicacy when visiting the Hiroshima area.