WHAT IS MOCHI? - Little Moons (2024)

WHAT IS MOCHI? - Little Moons (6)
News

What sets Little Moons apart from ice cream as you know it, is one distinct feature: mochi. We credit mochi for giving our ice cream a new dimension of texture, taste and unordinariness, and so it's about time we pay tribute to it.

What is Mochi Made From?

The name “mochi” refers to a variety ofJapanese rice cakes made from a short-grain, glutinousrice called mochigome. The sticky rice is steamed, pounded and moulded into adesired shape, typically round balls or domes. This pounded sticky rice creates a soft and stretchy dough that can be flavoured and wrapped around a paste or ice cream.

The Traditional Mochi-Making Method: Mochitsuki

Mochi-making is a beloved tradition and is usually a group activity with family and friends during periods of rest orcelebration. It is linked to the importance of rice (a staple meal in Japan) and was traditionally used in certain practices to thank God for providing a decent harvest.

The process starts the night before, where the mochi is washed and left to soak overnight. Early the next morning, the rice is decanted into a square, wooden steaming basket (a seiro) which is set over a kettle of boiling water.

The steamed rice is then placed in a large usu, or mortar, made of wood, stone, or concrete. The rice is then pounded with a wooden mallet – one person typically will be pounding the rice, whilst one will be turning the rice to create a smooth texture, with no individual rice grains.

Once the final texture has been achieved, it can be taken out and placed on a table of mochiko, a sweet rice flour, to remove some of the stickiness. This is then rolled into a desired shape and left to cool.

Mochitsuki is an activity that is particularly prevalent around New Year’s as it is believed to bring good fortune. This is because mochi is associated with keeping teeth and bones strong for years to come!

Is Mochi Healthy?

Mochi is a versatile and healthy snack, and was popular amongst rice farmers and Samurai for increasingstamina andfor its convenient format.

Mochi is one of the few carbohydrate sources that is packed with protein, and is free from cholesterol. Despite being described as ‘glutinous rice’, mochi is actually gluten-free and this word is rather used to describe it’s thick texture.

WHAT IS MOCHI? - Little Moons (2024)

FAQs

What is a little moon mochi? ›

Coconut Ice Cream Mochi: six coconut ice cream bites wrapped in sweet rice dough. Discover our collection of flavours at littlemoons.co.uk. With a mouthful of creamy artisan gelato, lovingly wrapped in soft and delightfully delicate mochi dough, each bite of mochi serves up an exciting new flavour adventure.

Is little moon mochi healthy? ›

Our mochi ice cream is perfectly portioned and the calories in our mochi balls range from 60 to around 85, so it's pretty guilt-free indulgence! Mochi itself is low in saturated fat and very low in cholesterol. Made from starch, which is good for digestion, mochi contains a host of nutrients and vitamins.

Are mochi balls healthy? ›

Is Mochi Healthy? Mochi is a versatile and healthy snack, and was popular amongst rice farmers and Samurai for increasing stamina and for its convenient format. Mochi is one of the few carbohydrate sources that is packed with protein, and is free from cholesterol.

Is mochi ice cream healthy? ›

A little Mochi Ice Cream a day keeps the doctor away! The delicious and sweet treat provides your body with a handful of beneficial nutrients including bone-strengthening calcium, blood-pressure-lowering potassium, and energizing B vitamins.

What exactly is mochi? ›

Mochi is made of mochigome, a Japanese variety of sweet glutinous rice, that is soaked overnight, steamed, pounded into dough and molded into various shapes. Some sweet mochi confections contain fillings such as bean paste, ice cream or fresh fruit.

What the heck is mochi? ›

Mochi is a chewy, glutinous Japanese rice cake. It's made by using wooden mallets to pound the mochi. until it becomes sticky and chewy. Then Mitsu comes in and works the mochi by hand.

Is mochi safe for kids? ›

The sticky, chewy texture of mochi is a choking hazard and should never be served to babies and young children. Most parents wait until at least three years old when the child has grown all her/his baby teeth and can properly chew and swallow food.

What does mochi do to your body? ›

When you combine rice and seaweed, mochi is low in saturated fat and very low in cholesterol. It is also a good source of Vitamins A, C, E (Alpha Tocopherol), and K, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, and Phosphorus. It's also a very good source of Riboflavin, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Copper, and Manganese.

Is mochi full of sugar? ›

A single serving of 44.0 g (1.55 oz) has 96 calories (kilocalories), 1.0 g (0.035 oz) of fat, but no trans or saturated fat, 1.0 mg (0.015 gr) of sodium, 22.0 g (0.78 oz) of carbohydrates, no dietary fiber, 6.0 g (0.21 oz) of sugar, and 1.0 g (0.035 oz) of protein.

Is mochi a food or snack? ›

MOCHI: AN ANCIENT JAPANESE SNACK

An ancient Japanese snack, mochi has been in the food culture of Japan since 14,000-300 B.C.. Possibly the cleanest confection ever created, it is traditionally made with pounded rice and spring water, and ofter filled with red Azuki bean paste.

Is mochi healthier than donut? ›

One of the main ingredients in our mochi donut is rice flour, making them a much healthier alternative than regular donuts. Therefore you can still achieve summer body when eating Mochinut! 😋😋

Do you eat little moons frozen? ›

Our ice cream balls are at their best 5 minutes after you take them out of the freezer. This is because the higher density of our gelato means it's not as soft straight out of the freezer. If you can bear to wait, your patience (and taste buds) will be rewarded with a much more intense flavour.

What are the disadvantages of mochi? ›

Problems can be avoided by breaking up mochi into smaller, more easily ingestible, pieces. But Nikkan Gendai warns that consumption of mochi can also cause problems for people of any age. For one thing, not chewing it thoroughly before swallowing can result in its becoming impacted in the intestine.

Are you supposed to eat mochi frozen? ›

Should I eat mochi ice cream frozen? Mochi ice cream should be slightly frozen when eaten. Although it shouldn't be completely frozen and solid, it should still be soft and cold.

Can you eat mochi for breakfast? ›

Mochi for Breakfast

Mochi as breakfast has been around for forever. In many Asian cultures, it's as common as bread,” she says. “Every Lunar New Year, my mom would make nian gao coated with egg and pan fry it. It's our version of a pancake.”

Why are little moons so popular? ›

Unlike any other product on the market, the unique mochi balls have taken the industry by storm. With a strong social media presence, Little Moons was a TikTok sensation that exploded into the mainstream during the pandemic-induced lockdown in 2020.

How is mochi different from ice cream? ›

There is really just one difference between mochi and ice cream mochi — the filling. By definition, mochi is the rice flour dough and it can be wrapped around a variety of fillings.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Duane Harber

Last Updated:

Views: 6086

Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Duane Harber

Birthday: 1999-10-17

Address: Apt. 404 9899 Magnolia Roads, Port Royceville, ID 78186

Phone: +186911129794335

Job: Human Hospitality Planner

Hobby: Listening to music, Orienteering, Knapping, Dance, Mountain biking, Fishing, Pottery

Introduction: My name is Duane Harber, I am a modern, clever, handsome, fair, agreeable, inexpensive, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.