To tell you the truth... I didn't know that Sakura(cherry blossoms) was used in such ways...
I'll tell you the conclusion!
Some Japanese people eat sakura! (I was surprised too when I heard that)
To tell the truth, I was born and raised in Japan, but I didn't know that some people ate sakura.
"sakura no shiozuke"
For example, in order to make "sakura no shiozuke", they put cherry blossoms and salt in a plastic bag and leave them at that for some days in a refrigerator.
Not only plates using sakura, but also drinks with it.
This is a liqueur containing cherry blossoms.
I think even Japanese people don't know that some people eat sakura.
But I don't have courage to eat cherry blossoms, nor drink alcohol containing them.
Personally I prefer Sakura, who appears in Naruto Shippuden.
That's it for today.
I just wanted to share this with you guys, who are interested in Japan.
Peace,
Ashitaka