Mochi Rice Cakes

Mochi rice cakes are a light, sweet Japanese dessert treat. With a soft, silky, and chewy texture, these delectable rice cakes will disappear before you know it. Our Mochi is similar to the Mochi used in frozen yogurt shops like PinkBerry, Red Mango, and Yogen Fruz.

In Japan, where mochi originates, the rice cakes are traditionally prepared during a ceremony called mochi-tsuki. To make the mochi, glutinous rice, a sweeter and stickier variety, is first soaked overnight and then cooked. The use of glutinous rice is an important element that gives mochi its trademark sticky texture and sweetness. After the rice is cooked, an old-fashioned wooden mallet and stone mortar are used to pound out the rice into a smooth, wet dough. Finally, the dough is shaped into round balls and dusted with cornstarch.

Mochi is commonly eaten by itself, with sweet condiments, or as a topping for ice cream, yogurt, desserts, and cereal. Daifuku (mochi stuffed with a sweet filling) is a traditional treat that’s popular in Japanese cultures today. Mochi is often served stuffed with sweet azuki bean paste, sweetened plum, or ground up peanuts. Two modern spins on traditional daifuku, mochi frozen yogurt and mochi ice cream have become increasingly popular in recent years.

Give this unique treat a try and you won’t be disappointed! The soft chewiness coupled with the silky sweetness makes mochi a satisfying treat. It’s not surprising that this sweet rice cake is quickly gaining popularity around the country!

We recommend that you keep mochi refrigerated to preserve its freshness.

Historical Reference

This sweet rice cake is often eaten during Japanese New Year festivities. The Japanese believe that mochi symbolized the spirit of rice and that, by eating mochi, they will acquire the strength of the rice divinities.

Our Registered Dietitian’s Top Pick

Our Registered Dietitian and Health Nut likes mochi rice cakes because they have less than half the sugar compared to many other sweet treats. They’re also a great topping for frozen yogurt or whole grain cereal.

Health Tips

1. Japanese folklore attests that eating mochi brings warmth to the body and is good for those with anemia, blood-sugar imbalances, and weak intestines.
2. Japanese culture also recommends mochi for those who easily get sick because mochi is thought to bring extra strength and stamina to the body through the rice divinities.