also: このめ
leaf bud; tree bud
General term for the new buds that appear on trees in spring.
The leaf buds in the garden have started to swell.
Japanese pepper tree bud; sanshō bud
Specifically the bud of the Japanese pepper tree (Xanthoxylum piperitum), used as a seasonal garnish or condiment in Japanese cuisine.
Chopping Japanese pepper buds and mixing them with miso makes kinome miso.
When it gets warmer, the tree buds start to sprout.
I garnished the chikuzen-ni with a sanshō bud before plating it.
Grind the sanshō buds in a mortar to make kinome miso.