🍡 Kasha Mochi

"Kasha Mochi" is a rice cake made with "yomogi (a kind of Japanese mugwort) " produced in the Amami region. "Kasha" refers to the leaves of the "kumatake orchid", which are used to wrap the rice cake, hence the name "Kasha Mochi". It is also called "Futtsu Mochi," "fuchi Mochi," "Futsimuchi," or "Fuchidaku". In the Amami region, "yomogi (mugwort) " is often harvested and has long been used as a medicinal herb that can be boiled and eaten, or used to remove odors due to its disinfectant effect. "Kumatake orchid" is also a member of the ginger family and is said to be effective in sterilizing and repelling insects. It grows wild throughout the Amami region, and in addition to "Kasha Mochi," it is also used to wrap rice balls. It is a confectionary made from mugwort, brown sugar, and "kumatake orchid" leaves, all of which are ingredients with high efficacy that can be found close at hand. In the Amami region, the rice cake sticks to the "kumatake orchid" leaves, and the synergistic effect of the ingredients enhances the flavor, which is why it is sometimes likened to a good partner being "like a rice cake and a kasha".