All about mochi 

In Japan, it is an incredibly popular snack, and in the Netherlands, these sticky sweet balls are also gaining popularity. Mochi is here to stay, but what exactly is it? What is it made from, and when do you eat it? Here is everything you wanted to know.

What is mochi?

Mochi are sweet balls made from a special type of Japanese short-grain glutinous rice: mochigome. The rice is steamed and then pounded until it becomes a smooth, sticky mass. This technique was first used in China but was later introduced to Japan via Southeast Asia. Mochi has a chewy texture that you either love or need to get used to. In many Asian countries, chewy textures are beloved, whereas Dutch people often need some time to adjust. But once you are accustomed to it, a whole new world opens up.

Mochi is usually sweetened with sugar, but the rice cakes can also be eaten savory, for example in soups or hotpot. The sweet version is often filled with a sweet paste in various flavors, ranging from classic red bean paste to (black) sesame, green tea, or peanut filling. You can also add endless flavors to the rice dough itself. The savory version is a traditional New Year snack, but in principle, mochi is eaten year-round. Since it is just a small bite, you can eat it between meals or as a small sweet finish.

In China and Korea, similar sticky rice cakes are made, often served with roasted soybean powder. These are usually made from long-grain glutinous rice, which is easier to obtain in the Netherlands than the special mochi rice. The texture is very similar to mochi but slightly firmer, and these rice cakes usually do not have a filling.

Mochi ice cream

On warm days, mochi ice cream is a refreshing treat. In this version, the glutinous rice dough is simply filled with ice cream in any flavor you like. Due to the cold temperature, the dough becomes slightly firmer. The combination with the soft ice cream inside is magical.

Make it yourself?

Making mochi yourself is quite complicated, especially if you follow the authentic method. First of all, mochigome (the rice) is hard to find in the Netherlands, and the pounding requires a lot of strength and has been elevated to a true art form in Japan. In this case, we prefer to be lazy rather than tired and stick to ready-made mochi or mochi ice cream. We buy various flavors in our webshop and of course in the store.