# Your thoughts on mochi - love, hate, whaat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [June 26, 2026, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195 "2026-06-26T07:21:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/21 "2026-06-26T18:09:13Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Real mochi, which starts as steamed short grain rice which is pounded in a huge mortar with a huge wooden hammer into a sticky resilient paste. Anything that claims to be mochi but comes by any other method is to sneer at. It’s how the [rabbit on the moon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_rabbit) does it. 🐰 🌕 ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/22 "2026-06-26T18:51:20Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > (Given that it is a sensitive topic in Hawai’i, I should probably note that Hawai’i isn’t my “home state” in any true meaning of the phrase - I wasn’t born and raised here, I’m a late-life transplant, having only lived here full-time for 8 years.) Thank you for the gentle correction! Mostly, I wanted to make the point that _butter_ mochi is a variant native to Hawai’i by most if not all accounts, rather than a “traditional” option and how that was likely relevant to your POV on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/23 "2026-06-26T22:12:40Z")
I love daifuku (as described by @gnoitall above) as an occasional treat. I think it would be cloying as a regular thing, and I would soon get tired of it. Also (for someone who has to watch what he eats) I believe it is packed, packed I tells ya, with carbs. The beans provide a small (i.e. tiny) amount of protein. But it doesn’t have to be sweet, it can also be savory. My Japanese husband buys these little frozen blocks of it, and he’ll cook a couple at a time, for a snack, over the flame on our gas stove with a flame diffuser thing under it. It softens and sort of bubbles, and then starts to turn brown. I’m not sure exactly at what point he takes it off the heat, but anyway he wraps seaweed around it, pours a little soy sauce over it, and very carefully (because it’s hot) eats it. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/24 "2026-06-26T23:14:47Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > My favorite filling is red bean paste. I prefer black sesame or peanuts. Red bean is fine, though. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/25 "2026-06-26T23:33:37Z")
There used to be a stunning mochi spot near Fair City Mall in Fairfax, Va. They made these amazing frozen fruit concoctions, not ices or sherbets, but something less sweet, more intensely fruit flavored and smoother. They would put little balls of plain mochi rolled in toasted grain (soy flour maybe?) into the mix right before serving it to you. The mochi made for a perfect little break from the intensely fresh fruit flavors. A little like the cream at the center of an oreo - otherwise it would have been too much. I loved those. They also made “sandwiches” tucked into one fourth of a folded crepe. Man, I miss that place. ---
**Author:** ![Apodder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apodder/32/17727_2.png) [@Apodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apodder)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/26 "2026-06-27T00:28:17Z")
I actually despise it…it’s like a wad of uncooked bread dough wrapped around a filling. You chew it forever after the filling’s been swallowed and it just gums up your throat and feels like it’ll choke you. I’ve only had a frozen filling, maybe ice cream, because I only had it once and won’t do it again. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/27 "2026-06-27T00:31:21Z")
I tried it for the first time yesterday, with the red bean paste. I found it underwhelming. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/28 "2026-06-27T00:31:27Z")
I like mochi, especially with red bean paste. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/29 "2026-06-27T01:02:04Z")
I can take it or leave it. I’ve mostly had it as a wrapper around a filling. And how much i like the snack (it’s usually a snack) basically depends on how much i like the filling. The mochi itself has a fairly neutral flavor. A little too sweet when the filling is savory, but basically neutral. And the mochi does a nice job of keeping your hands clean while you eat the snack. The texture is an acquired taste. The first time i had it i found it unpleasantly rubbery. But I’ve acquired the taste, and while i don’t crave the texture or anything, i no longer find it disconcerting. It’s just what it is. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/30 "2026-06-27T01:23:54Z")
Never ran across it (or senbei, either) during my three years in Hawai`i. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/31 "2026-06-27T01:37:56Z")
I don’t know a lot about it, but a lot of stores near me stock mochi ice cream novelties next to drumsticks or whatever and they’re great. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/32 "2026-06-27T01:53:22Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > usually I detest white chocolate but it really works in this particular dish). White chocolate, when made with actual cocoa butter, is _much_ better than the other white stuff (which is supposed to be called white coating, white confectionary coating, almond bark, summer coating, or a white baking bar). White chocolate mousse with raspberries is sublime. I like mochi okay, but like others have said, it’s more the fillings. One of my daughters is celiac and Filipina, so we get it now and then. > [@TruCelt](#): > > They would put little balls of plain mochi rolled in toasted grain (soy flour maybe?) into the mix right before serving it to you. My guess is toasted rice bits (khao khua) ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/33 "2026-06-27T03:09:08Z")
Love mochi. I have yet to find any form of mochi I do not like. > [@SCAdian](#): > > Never ran across it (or senbei, either) during my three years in Hawai`i This seems really hard to believe! > [@CairoCarol](#): > > Two Ladies Kitchen Those Two Ladies should be sainted! ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/34 "2026-06-27T03:23:24Z")
Great post and user name combo. And I’m delighted to discover another poster who appreciates Two Ladies. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/35 "2026-06-27T04:57:28Z")
I’ve only had fresh mochi once, and that’s at the local Japanese restaurant. Most of the time I get the bagged version from the Asia store, and my favorite is red bean paste. So it’s basically an excuse to get red bean paste in an easily edible form, since I don’t feel like making dumplings. Overall, mochi is underwhelming, but I still keep buying it. I do like trying other flavors. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/36 "2026-06-27T10:22:17Z")
Love it!! The texture is actually appealing to me. I prefer the little flavored, unfilled pieces, but it seems like all I can find are the filled ones. Right now I have some filled with green tea flavored paste. Nice! I’ve never had fresh mochi. ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/37 "2026-06-27T10:35:16Z")
I’ve tried it and I neither love nor hate it. I can have it from time to time, but it doesn’t blow me away. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/38 "2026-06-27T14:59:48Z")
I like it very much. On its own or in a ball wrapped around ice cream. Trader Joe’s has some nice flavors. Damn, I have no resistance when it comes to threads like these. An earlier discussion sent me to TJ’s for spicy rolled chili-lime chips. Now I have a craving for TJ’s mochi. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/39 "2026-06-27T15:13:02Z")
Mochi is just one type of [wagashi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wagashi#Types) [sweets/confectionery], of which there are, naturally, many variations and some are not even made of rice. There should be something to everybody’s taste… ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195/40 "2026-06-29T18:43:19Z")
This thread reminds me that i have some mochi with yuzu sherbet inside in the freezer. Yum. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-on-mochi-love-hate-whaat/1031195.md?page=3)