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Mochi explained: daifuku, mochi ice cream and Taiwanese mochi

Verschillende mochi: daifuku met rodebonenvulling, matcha- en aardbeienmochi en ijsmochi, met kinako en een kop groene thee.

You’ll recognize mochi immediately when you bite into it: first a soft, almost powdery layer, then that chewy, springy dough that bounces back a little, and in the middle a sweet filling of red beans, sesame or peanuts. For some, it’s a nostalgic treat to enjoy with tea; for others, a curious discovery from a colourful pouch. In our shop in Amsterdam, we have entire shelves full of them, from classic red bean to bubble milk tea and durian, and in this guide we explain what you’re actually holding. Most come from Taiwanese brands like Royal Family and Love & Love, exactly the kind of pouches you see in supermarkets in Taiwan. If you’d rather browse the whole snack aisle, start with Snacks 101.

What is mochi?

Red bean mochi is the form most people know, but the word mochi actually just means the dough itself. In Japan, it is made from mochigome, a short-grain glutinous rice. The rice is soaked, steamed and then pounded or pounded with a heavy wooden mallet until a smooth, elastic dough is formed. Traditionally, this is done in a large wooden mortar with a heavy wooden mallet, and pounding is part of the preparations for the Japanese New Year. Factory-packaged mochi is usually made from glutinous rice flour, often with sugar or maltose added to keep the dough soft; you can find out exactly what is in it on the label.

The dough itself tastes mild; the flavour comes from the filling. Read more about the role of rice in Japan in Japanese cuisine 101.

What is the difference between daifuku, ice mochi and other mochi?

Mini matcha daifuku shows what daifuku is: a ball of mochi with a filling inside. The classic one is anko, sweet red bean paste, but you can also find daifuku with sesame, peanuts or matcha, and in Japan, ichigo daifuku, with a whole strawberry inside, is a popular variety. Almost all the packaged mochi on our shelf is actually daifuku, even if that word is not on the pouch.

Ice mochi

Buono Mochi Ice is ice mochi: a ball of ice cream in a thin layer of mochi dough. It is a fairly modern invention and much younger than daifuku. Ice mochi belongs in the freezer, and therefore you cannot always just send it along with the rest of your order; read more about shelf life.

Other forms of glutinous rice

Besides daifuku and ice mochi, there are many more forms. In Japan, you eat dango, small balls on a stick, and mochi squares that you roast or put in soup. In Taiwan, you often see mochi with a layer of grated coconut or finely ground peanuts. And in the rest of Asia, almost every cuisine has its own glutinous rice sweet, from Chinese nian gao around Lunar New Year to Philippine bilo-bilo. Korean tteok are also rice cakes, but for the savoury tteokbokki you use regular rice, not glutinous rice.

Japanese or Taiwanese mochi: what is the difference?

Seiki Matcha Mochi is one of the Japanese mochi we sell, but most of our shelf comes from Taiwan. That is no coincidence: Taiwan has its own mochi tradition, there it is called 麻糬, and Taiwanese brands like Love & Love, Loves Flower and Royal Family make the round, individually packaged mochi that you see in many Asian shops.

You taste the difference mainly in the fillings. Japanese mochi often stays close to red beans, matcha and other classic flavours. Taiwanese mochi plays more: bubble milk tea, brown sugar, taro, pandan with coconut and even tiramisu. The filling is often a soft, creamy paste based on beans with the flavour added, and the outside is usually dusted with a little starch so that the balls do not stick together.

View all Taiwanese snacks →

What mochi flavours are there?

Red bean mochi is the flavour you can never go wrong with, but the shelf is much broader. Below you will find them in four groups, from familiar to adventurous.

Classic: red bean, sesame, peanut and matcha

Green tea mochi and red bean are the flavours that lie closest to tradition. They pair well with a cup of green tea.

Tea time and dessert

Bubble milk tea mochi is typically Taiwanese: the taste of the famous milk tea, but in a bite. Royal Family takes it one step further with mochi that tastes like tiramisu, strawberry cheesecake or pancakes with maple syrup.

Fruity

Strawberry mochi and lychee are fresh and sweet, and the mixed bag with fruit flavours is convenient if you want to sample with a few people.

For the daring: durian, taro and pandan

Kaoriya durian mochi is for those who dare to taste the king of fruits, with a creamy filling that really tastes like durian. Taro is softer and a bit nutty, and the mochi with pandan and grated coconut looks a bit like onde-onde on the outside.

View all mochi →

Mochi om mee te beginnen

Mochi Roll Red Bean & Creamy Filling, 150g

Love & Love Mochi Roll Red Bean & Creamy Filling

View product

Is mochi shelf-stable or should it be kept in the freezer?

Loves Flower Brown Sugar Mochi and almost all other mochi in our webshop are shelf-stable: they are individually wrapped in a bag or box and can simply be kept in the cupboard. Ice mochi is the big difference, because it must stay in the freezer until you eat it. Frozen products may have different shipping conditions than the rest of your order. If you want ice mochi, check the product page to see what applies to your order, or pick it up at the toko in Amsterdam.

How do you eat and store mochi?

Matcha mochi and the other packaged mochi are simply eaten from the bag at room temperature, preferably with a cup of tea. If you put them in the fridge for fifteen minutes, they become firmer and fresher; ice mochi should be left out of the freezer so that the dough softens. How long you keep a bag and whether it needs to go in the fridge after opening is stated on the label, so follow that.

Take it easy with small bites

Mochi is chewy and sticky, and that's exactly what makes it so delicious. Take small bites and chew thoroughly, especially if you're giving mochi to young children or older family members. Feel free to cut a large mochi into pieces, so you can keep enjoying it.

Not sure where to start? Grab a bag of red bean for the classic flavour, a bag of bubble milk tea to see how Taiwanese mochi plays with flavours, and if you dare, a bag of durian; with these three you'll quickly find out which way you want to go.

Can you make something like mochi yourself with glutinous rice?

Most people don't make mochi at home, but if you want to play around with glutinous rice flour, you can easily start with a related dish. In the Philippines, they make ginataang bilo-bilo: glutinous rice balls cooked in sweet coconut milk with saba banana, sweet potato and langka. It's not mochi, but you'll immediately feel the same soft, chewy bite.

Where can you find mochi in the webshop?

We have our own mochi collection, and you'll also find them among the Taiwanese and Japanese snacks.

Read more about snacks

Mochi is just one shelf in the snack aisle; in these guides you'll read about the rest.

All mochi in one place

Red bean, matcha, bubble milk tea, durian and more, individually packaged and shelf-stable.

Shop mochi

Frequently asked questions

What is mochi made of?

Glutinous rice. Traditionally, steamed glutinous rice is pounded into an elastic dough; packaged mochi is usually made from glutinous rice flour with sugar or maltose. The ingredients are on the label.

What is the difference between mochi and daifuku?

Mochi is the dough made from glutinous rice. Daifuku is mochi with a filling, classically sweet red bean paste. Most packaged mochi in the store are therefore actually daifuku.

Does mochi need to be in the refrigerator?

Shelf-stable packaged mochi can stay in the cupboard; follow the label for storage after opening. Ice mochi must stay in the freezer.

Is ice mochi the same as mochi?

Ice mochi is a ball of ice cream in a thin layer of mochi dough. It is a frozen product and therefore something different from the shelf-stable mochi with a filling of beans or cream.

How do you eat mochi?

Just out of the bag, at room temperature or briefly chilled, with a cup of tea. Take small bites and chew thoroughly, because the dough is chewy and sticky.

Is mochi Japanese or Taiwanese?

Mochi comes from Japan, but Taiwan has its own tradition. In our webshop, the majority of the packaged mochi comes from Taiwan, with flavours like bubble milk tea, taro and brown sugar.

Is mochi gluten-free?

Glutinous rice itself contains no gluten, despite the English word glutinous. Packaged mochi may contain other ingredients, so always check the label for allergens.

Mochi is one of those snacks you taste with your whole mouth, first that soft, powdery layer, then the chewy dough and finally the sweet filling, and that's why it's nice to take your time with it instead of quickly grabbing one from the bag. Start with the familiar red bean or matcha, then taste your way from bubble milk tea and brown sugar to taro and durian, and you'll naturally notice which flavour suits you. If you're standing in the toko in Amsterdam in front of the shelf with colourful bags and don't know where to start, feel free to ask us, and if you want to know what else is in the snack aisle, read on in Snacks 101.