Like other Japanese traditional sweets, an is seasoned with a very small amount of salt or mochi is shaped with a little salt water, since the salt is very effective in increasing the sweetness.
多くの和菓子にいえることだが、隠し味として餡にごくわずかの塩を加えるか、ついたものを握るときに手を適度な塩水に浸してから握るとより一層甘味が引き立つ。