Kashiwa Mochi

While you’re likely familiar with Japanese mochi, you might not know its cousin, kashiwa mochi. It’s a Japanese confection — or wagashi — made of white mochi filled with sweet red bean paste and wrapped in an oak leaf, although this leaf is purely for decoration and the sweet is unwrapped before being eaten.

Unlike the better-known mochi made from glutinous rice, which is soft and gummy, kashiwa mochi is made from joshinko, a rice flour of milled non-glutinous short grain rice. The non-glutinous characteristics of joshinko causes kashiwa mochi to be firmer than its chewy glutinous relative. The end result is a satisfying texture and pleasantly sweet treat.

It’s commonly associated with Kodomo no Hi, also known as children’s day, when it’s traditionally eaten. Kashiwa mochi is thought to represent strength, longevity, and fortune.

Uwajimaya carries kashiwa mochi alongside other candies in our sweet’s aisle.