Thursday, April 3, 2014

Sakuramochi w/White Chocolate

Mochi (mochigashi) is a type of confectionery originating from Japan. It is a rice cake that is made of mochigome, a form of short-grain glutinous rice. It is made from Japonica rice, or rice that is grown in Japan. This particular rice is used because the short to medium mochigome lack amylose, a component of starch that resists digestion. Since mochi has little to no amylose, they are highly digestible, and as a result tend to have a higher glycemic index (AKA will result more quickly in a higher blood glucose level in the body after consumption). In other words, you should eat up with moderation! :)

Mochi is produced using glutinous rice, which are pressed and molded into a rounded ball shape. In the past, the mochitsuki process to make this was quite labor intensive. They would soak and cook the rice overnight, and then pound the rice with mallets and mortars the next day. Talk about exhausting! Nowadays, mochi can be made in your own home using the microwave!

They are often served as wagashi (Japanese sweets that are often served along with tea) and traditionally consumed during the Japanese New Year--although they are very popular and produced and consumed year round. 


Mochi come in other forms, such as daifuku, which are mochi with a sweet filling (anko azuki beans--sweetened red bean paste--are commonly used). I've also seen mochi ice cream, which are a mochi exterior with an ice cream filling! These can be found in certain grocery stores such as Trader Joe's.

The mochi pictured above is the "Harajuku Mochi Chocolat: Sakura." It's a product of Japan, so it is imported and therefore a bit more expensive. They used artificial red food coloring to obtain the rich pink color, which contrasts with authentic sakuramochi that uses red bean paste. The white chocolate filling was also almost non-existent. The mochi not only tasted better, but the flavors definitely overpowered the chocolate. Not only could more chocolate be added, but the quality could also be improved. It was not very rich and tasted quite artificial. Although they do use real cocoa butter, it was not enough to give the chocolate an intense and creamy taste. The mochi itself, on the other hand, did not disappoint. :)

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