Mochi ice cream

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

Originally created by Lotte, a Japanese/Korean confectionery company as Yukimi Daifukuin 1981,^[1] mochi ice cream is now an internationally recognized food. Current marketing names include Mikawaya's "Mochi Ice Cream" in the United States (also utilized by other companies). Mikawaya Bakery-Confectionery in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California began marketing its version of mochi ice cream in 1993. ^[2]

1 Description
2 History
3 History in the United States
4 Notes
5 External links

[edit] Description

Mochi ice cream is a spherical finger food varying in diameter, but 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: an 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).

[edit] History

Japanese daifuku and manju 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.

[edit] History in the United States

Joel Friedman and Frances Hashimoto, business coworkers and a married couple, are the co-inventors of mochi ice cream — coincidentally, both are also representitave of the main cultural components of the food, mochi and western style ice cream. Hashimoto was heir to Mikawaya Bakery-Confectionery, originally a mom and pop store in Little Tokyo, with speciality in manju; Joel Friedman was Chief Financial Officer of Mikawaya during the creation process. Research and development took over a decade to realize the mass production form seen today, due to the complex interactions of the ingredients. ^[4]

[edit] Notes

^ Japan. Japan Patent Office. Trademark Application From File: #s56-64587. Tokyo, 1981.
^ 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.
^ Mikawaya Mochi Ice Cream Nutrition Facts, Calories, and Healthy Alternatives, thedailyplate.com, The Daily Plate, LLC., 2006. URL accessed August 10, 2006.
^ 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.