🍡 Ishigaki Mochi

Flour has become a fundamental part of Oita Prefecture's food culture. Due to unsuitable conditions for rice cultivation, wheat and other grains grew and thrived after the construction of waterways. In the 1950s, rice farming in the area surpassed 40,000 hectares, leading to the spread of local dishes and confections that used flour as a staple food among the common people. "Ishigaki-mochi" is a snack that originated from the flour-food culture, and served as a quick bite for farm workers. Its name comes from its rough appearance resembling a stone wall, or due to its origin in an area with many stone walls. As the ingredients are readily available and easy to make, "Ishigaki-mochi" gradually became popular throughout Oita Prefecture. The mochi's names and origins differ among regions, such as "kirikomi-mochi" for sweet potatoes cut into pieces and "konekomi-mochi" for kneaded sweet potatoes. The dough is made of only wheat flour and sweet potatoes, resulting in its signature chewy texture. Besides ishigaki mochi, "yaseuma," flattened wheat flour noodles, and "yude-mochi," boiled sweet bean paste-filled mochi, are also popular among people of all ages as Oita Prefecture's representative local sweets.