Got to Love Japanese Mochi. It’s the Best Japanese Dessert, in my honest opinion. And I take my research very seriously.
I know every Japanese dessert shop in Tokyo, and I’m sure they remember me…I buy at least 10 Mochi at a time, and that’s because I’ve raised two enthusiastic Japanese Sweets lovers at home…
I always say that Japanese cakes and sweets are a guilt-free way for satisfying your sweet tooth.
Mochi has a very subtle sweet taste, and that’s because they are made mostly from chestnuts, red or white bean paste, green tea, and rice flour (Mochiko).
In some forms of Mochi cakes, there’s some Corn starch or potato starch included. The added sugar never brings it to the level of sweetness you would expect from a conventional western dessert.
The white coating you see on the Mochi Japanese cakes comes from the starch powdered to keep them from sticking to each other.
The colors are white, pale green (green tea, my favorite), or pale pink (strawberry). Each season the stores change the colors and shapes of Japanese desserts and cakes to reflect the change of season.
Pink during April in Tokyo, when the cherry blossoms bloom, orange and gold in October / November in Tokyo, for autumn leaves.
Mochi cakes have a sticky texture with a bad reputation for killing old people on New Year’s eve. Why New Year’s eve? It’s the traditional Japanese food on this holiday.
But please don’t let this put you off – Mochi is eaten year-round, and these accidents mostly happen with elderly people who have trouble chewing.
Japanese Mochi Recipe: How To Make It
Making Mochi at home is not as complicated as you would think. I find it to be a very relaxing activity, perfect for cooking with kids as no hot oven is needed, only a short cooking time on the stove.
Mochi Ice cream Recipe Book
Japanese Mochi ice cream is a Dessert made from Mochi Rice cakes, only this time, instead of the traditional red bean filling there’s an ice cream filling.
If you happen to live in New York, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market sell them from their ice cream freezers. Sorry, Don’t know any other locations.
See More: Delicious Japanese Desserts
They come in Matcha green tea chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors.
I always go for the green tea flavor because the bitterness of the tea complements the sweet ice cream so well.
This book – Tastes & Flavors of Mochi – is the only decent English-language book I’ve found on making Mochi. Others are either outdated or have no photos.
13 Glorious Japanese Desserts That Will Make You Want to Visit Japan
