Mochi is a Japanese rice cake or a snack, traditionally consumed on New Year's Eve. In Japan, the average consumption in one year is about one kilogram per person. Mochi has a soft but bite-resistant consistency. these Japanese rice cakes snacks are sweet, but can also be hearty. Mochi is filled with different things. The Japanese snacks are sweetened with soya sauce, and in western countries, mochi is even filled with a chocolate filling. You can eat mochi with dips, or in dried form. In the dried form, they are also more durable, but rather hard. To counteract this, mochi is dipped in tea or served as an accompaniment to Zoni, a special New Year's soup.
Production of mochi
The small Rice cakes are made from gluten. According to tradition, these Japanese rice cake is first steamed. Afterward, the reism is beaten in large wooden tunes with wooden hammers. This can be really exhausting, as the rice lump has to be flipped after each stroke. This method of preparation is very time-intensive and is therefore now only prepared at popular festivals or at public demonstrations of sumo wrestlers. Mass production is now taking care of by machines. Instead of sticky rice, there are also other kinds of Japanese rice cake mochi, which are made with rice flour.
Be careful when eating mochi
At the end of 2013, two people died while eating a Japanese rice cake called mochi. On new year's eve 2014 and 2015, nine people died eating these Japanese snacks. Why? Because these Japanese rice cakes are so sticky and contentable, that one can stifle. As the New Year's tradition recommends the mass of the Japanese rice cake consumption, particularly the elderly are affected who have difficulty swallowing the sticky Japanese rice cakes. In Japan, the authorities warned that Mochi should be divided into small pieces before they are given to children or the elderly. They should never be eaten alone. If a rice cake is stuck in the throat, a strong blow on the back is necessary to remove the plug. In extreme cases, it is also advised to use a vacuum cleaner. We hope we have not ruined your appetite. If you stick to our tips, nothing can happen to you while eating these delicious Japanese rice cake
