Fried maple leaves are weird fall food trend

Not just any old leaves, but Japanese maple tree leaves. The quirky snack is hawked by roadside vendors in the regions of Japan where maple trees are plentiful, during the autumn season when the leaves change colors.

While the idea of eating leaves from trees may be a new and strange concept to those outside Japan, Huffington Post reports that the practice is said to have been around for almost a thousand years. Called momiji, the leaves are preserved in salt barrels for up to a year, then deep fried in a sweet or salty tempura batter.

The leaves themselves reportedly have little flavor, so it’s all about the seasonings of the batter, which vary depending upon location. The deep-frying process makes for a light and crispy treat that children especially enjoy.

There is no word on when deep-fried tree leaves might join funnel cakes as fair and carnival food offerings in the United States.