Mochi ice cream

Mochi ice cream in green tea, vanilla, and strawberry flavours.

Mochi ice cream is a Japanese confection made from mochi (pounded sticky rice) with an ice cream filling.

Originally created by Lotte, as Yukimi Daifuku in 1981, the company first made the product by using a rice starch instead of sticky rice and a type of ice milk instead of real ice cream.^[1] Mochi ice cream is now an internationally recognized food. Current marketing names include Mikawaya's "Mochi Ice Cream" in the United States (also used by other companies), which began production of what is now known as mochi ice cream in the United States in 1993.^[2]

Description

Mochi ice cream can be considered finger food or is served on a toothpick. Mochi ice cream can vary in diameter, but is comparable to a golf ball in size, shape and weight: 45 g mass and 45 mm diameter. For comparison, Mikawaya's brand of mochi ice cream is approximately 42.5 grams in mass.^[3]

There are two layers: a soft, dough-like outer mochi shell, and inner ice cream core.

Flavors are dependent on brand, however, matcha (ground green tea), chocolate, and vanilla are likely to be represented (flavors of both Mikawaya and Lotte brand mochi ice creams). Strawberry, mango, and red bean paste (azuki) are also common flavors.

History

Japanese daifuku and manjū are the predecessors to mochi ice cream, commonly featuring azuki bean filling. However, due to the temperature and consistency of mochi and ice cream, both components must be modified in order to achieve the right viscosity that will remain constant regardless of changes in temperature.^[4]

In the United States

Mikawaya was the first to manufacture mochi ice cream in the United States. The Mikawaya website also makes this claim in their history statement.^[5] Research and development took over a decade to realize the mass production form utilized today, due to the complex interactions of the ingredients.^[2][4]

Notes and references

1. ^ Japan. Japan Patent Office. Trademark Application From File: #s56-64587. Tokyo, 1981.
2. ^ ^{a b} Mainstream America Embraces Mochi Ice Cream, sushiandtofu.com, All Japan News, December, 2001. History of Mochi Ice Cream and Mikawaya Bakery-Confectionery. URL accessed August 10, 2006.
3. ^ Mikawaya Mochi Ice Cream Nutrition Facts, Calories, and Healthy Alternatives, thedailyplate.com, The Daily Plate, LLC., 2006. URL accessed August 10, 2006.
4. ^ ^{a b} Eto, Masa, Pursuit of Innovative Food, "Masa's Message", A&D Company Ltd., March, 2004. Technical information on Yukimi Daifuku. URL accessed August 10, 2006.
5. ^ About Us, Mikawaya, 2005. . URL accessed January 18, 2007.

External links

• Mikawaya's official site
• Lotte's official site (Japanese)
• The joy of mochi — June 14, 2006 Honolulu Weekly article, featuring Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream of Honolulu
• Maeda-en Mochi Ice Cream site