For the love of mochi
I recall working a long summer at my old job in the UK when the craze hit, Mochi ice cream was the new big thing from Japan. Although a lover of most things Japanese, I wasn’t enthusiastic about the new craze, and even when I flew to Saga, I still had not eaten mochi. Truth be told, I can be a very fussy eater, and after deciding that red bean paste was not for me, I waved mochi off. But little did I know I would soon become hooked on mochi.
So, what is mochi? Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made from steamed rice that is pounded into a paste-like substance. It is eaten year-round; however, it is traditionally eaten for the New Year. There is a famous story of the rabbit who lives on the moon, which is linked to the New Year’s tradition. Mochi is versatile and can be enjoyed in many different forms. Mochi has roots dating back to the 6th century, the Kofun period. For those interested, I wrote a blog answering the question of why Japan is covered in Keyhole shapes. Archaeological digs have uncovered many rice steamers from burial grounds and old homes, showing that the production of mochi had become so popular that steamers could be found in regular homes.
During the 8th century, the Nara period, a story emerged about a man who made an arrow from mochi, and he used it to shoot a white bird. The Bird flew away, and the field he owned became barren. It is believed that Mochi had spiritual powers. Mochi grew yet again in importance in the Heian period, where royalty would put mochi in babies’ mouths when they hit 50 days old. It became customary for brides and grooms to share mochi at the bride’s house three days after the wedding. It is during this period that mochi became tied to New Year’s. Mochi became recognised as a food that promoted long life and strength.
During New Year’s, Kagami mochi is placed in an alcove in traditional Japanese homes, this mochi can be bought in convenience stores and is usually seen with a mikan (orange) on top. After the New Year, it is smashed with a hammer after it has dried out as an offering to the Gods.
As times changed and sweeteners reached Japan, mochi took on new flavours. It found its way into confectionery and took on more creative forms. The upper class in Japan saw a high sugar content as a status symbol, so mochi became even sweeter. With the manufacturing process becoming more modern and streamlined, mochi soon became available to everyone. For the wealthy, white sugar was enjoyed, while for the poorer, brown sugar was used. Its place in New Year’s celebrations is forever sealed. Most mochi found in convenience stores and sold by chains is machine-made; the handmade mochi, which is pounded by a wooden hammer, is usually sold at a higher price and harder to come by, but it is an opportunity that should not be skipped.
Japan prides itself on having four distinct seasons, and this means foods, too, have seasonal twists. Mochi is no different; there are many seasonal variations. I already covered New Year’s mochi. Zoni is a soup containing mochi balls. This is also eaten on New Year’s. This dish is savoury, and it is served with taro, carrot and honeywort. Another treat enjoyed around New Year’s is Kinako mochi. This one is very traditional; the mochi is covered in soy flour. When the spring hits, Sakura flavouring hits every snack imaginable, including mochi. The mochi becomes pink and is eaten with red bean paste and wrapped in a salted cherry blossom leaf. Children’s Day sees mochi full of red bean paste being enjoyed wrapped in an oak leaf. And for girls’ day, mochi turns three different colours and takes on a fun shape, which is layered with the colours on top of each other and topped with flowers.
These are the most traditional forms, but there are even more that can be found even in the West. Ice cream mochi hit the West a few years ago, and vanilla ice cream is wrapped in mochi. The sweet, chewy mochi complements the creamy ice cream in the centre. The mochi covering makes the ice cream easier to hold. More flavours flooded the west, and ice cream mochi became popular.
Recently, I have found myself addicted to mochi in three different forms, all found at 7-Eleven; however, a few of them may have been phased out as the food is rotated constantly at 7-Eleven to stay fresh and keep customers excited. It can, however, be sad when your favourite snack is rotated out. The first mochi snack that grabbed my attention was a chocolate mochi ice cream bar. The flavour was creamy, and the ice cream was chewy. It melted more slowly, and the flavours paired together to be very addictive. This was a treat I enjoyed for around two weeks, but it has since then been left in the freezer. The next was a chocolate-filled mochi ball that came in packs of eight as they were the size of a marble. The mochi here was more traditional; it was sticky and covered in powder and came with a bamboo stick for eating. The chocolate inside was rich, and the pairing was magic. I am very sad that this variation has vanished; however, the strawberry version is still in Family Mart, so I am hopeful I may see it somewhere else, as it was not a Seven-Brands item.
The final item, which I can still thankfully find it the chewy mochi chocolate-filled fish snack. This snack can be found with either custard filling, which is in most stores or just the chocolate, which I have only found in 7. The mochi is mixed into a light, chewy dough; the taste is hard to describe, but it has a nice, doughy aftertaste. The chocolate mousse at the centre is rich and pairs nicely with the chewy, subtle mochi. These three mochi snacks changed my world, and I finally joined team mochi. I am hoping to discover more before I return to the UK, but I am comforted in knowing mochi ice cream is widely available now in the West, just at a steeper price.
Mochi has a long and very interesting history, and the traditional pounded form provides a closer taste to historical Japan. The snack can be healthy when not paired with chocolate mousses and creams. Mochi alone is very enjoyable. It is certainly a treat I recommend to others, and perhaps it is closer than you think! For this one, you may not need to book a flight, but search your nearest large town for Japanese food; the hunt is well worth it!
