also: つばきもち · つばいもち
camellia-leaf rice cake
A traditional Japanese sweet consisting of a rice cake (mochi) sandwiched between two camellia leaves. Often associated with early spring and the Doll's Festival (Hinamatsuri).
There is a custom of eating camellia-leaf rice cakes during the Doll's Festival.
The subtle sweetness of the camellia-leaf rice cake and the fragrance of the camellia leaves evoke spring.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading つばきもち is the most common modern pronunciation.
Historical or dialectal reading; つばいもち is older and less common today.
Archaic reading; つばいもちい reflects an older pronunciation preserved in classical contexts.
Kana spelling is practical for learners and in contexts where the kanji 椿 may be difficult.
Compound of 椿 (tsubaki, 'camellia') and 餅 (mochi, 'rice cake'). The historical reading つばいもちい reflects older phonological forms.