I always say that Japanese cakes and sweets are a guilt-free way for satisfying your sweet tooth.
Mochi have 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.
Mochi cakes have a sticky texture with a bad reputation for killing old people during New Years eve.
Why New Years eve? Mochi is 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. The white coating you see on the Mochi Japanese cakes comes from the starch powdered to keep them from sticking to each other. Mochi 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 in during April in Tokyo, when the cherry blossoms bloom, orange and gold in October / November in Tokyo, for autumn leaves.
Japanese Mochi Recipe: How To Make Mochi
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.Easy Japanese cake recipes are explained here.
The Only English-Language Japanese Mochi Ice cream Recipe Book
Japanese Mochi ice cream is a Japanese 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 on Japanese Desserts and how to get them here.
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 Others are either outdated or have no photos. Continue Reading:
More Japanese Desserts
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