🍡 Iriko Mochi

“Iriko mochi” literally means rice cake made from parched rice flour. The dish has been handed down in the Satsuma domain since the Edo period. “Iriko mochi” was handed out to the local people at ceremonies to celebrate and wish for the healthy growth of children. In the middle of the Edo period, “iriko mochi” became a snack that could also be enjoyed by commoners. It is often served during the Bon holidays. Glutinous rice is roasted and ground into a powder. The powder is then kneaded with starch syrup and other ingredients. Once the rice cake is made, it is cut into stick shapes. The ingredients for “iriko mochi” are easy to gather and the recipe is not hard to follow but the texture of the rice cake is influenced by the temperature and humidity of the weather. “Iriko mochi” has the aroma of the roasted flour and a gentle sweetness. It is soft in texture and delicious to eat and is a popular traditional snack eaten by the local people of Miyazaki prefecture.