What Makes Kubota Daifuku Mochi a Must-Try Delight from Japan?
The easiest way to taste the essence of Japanese dessert culture is to eat a chewy ball of mochi. In the past, the only way to get your hands on this traditional Japanese rice cake was to travel to Japan. But thanks to businesses like Bokksu Market, people outside the country can easily enjoy mochi.
Mochi’s popularity outside of Japan seems to be growing rapidly, with foreign consumers preferring desserts made by real Japanese companies. We get hundreds of mochi-related orders every day, especially for one specific product: Kubota Daifuku Mochi. If you’re thinking about getting authentic Japanese mochi, that should be your go-to product. The rest of this post will reveal exactly why!
Kubota: Masters of Mochi Craftsmanship
Meet Kubota, one of the biggest producers of semi-raw Japanese sweets in the world. Most people in Japan know the brand as Kubota Seika, but Western consumers refer to it as simply “Kubota.” In Japan, you can find Kubota products in supermarkets, convenience stores, and specialty shops. Overseas, Kubota has an expansive distribution network that extends to countries like the US, Canada, Hong Kong, and Australia.
Kubota was founded in 1950 in Japan. The company started off by making semi-raw wagashi (traditional sweets). Today, the Kubota brand has an elite status in the mochi industry domestically and internationally. It offers original and authentic products that customers will struggle to find elsewhere. These treats are sold as semi-raw sweets created with the basic principles of making traditional mochi.
Unpacking the Varieties of Kubota Mochi
Kubota mochi products are crafted with gyuhi, a type of confectionery made from sweet rice flour, starch syrup, and sugar. The brand manufactures a wide variety of rice cakes, including daifuku and other types of mochi. Some of these treats are only available in Japan, while others are distributed overseas. Let’s dive into the different types of mochi offered by Kubota.
Daifuku
Kubota’s Daifuku Mochi is by far the brand’s most favorite offering. The products feature marshmallows mixed with sweet red bean paste and wrapped in chewy rice cake. Flavors are added to them by mixing the paste with special ingredients, such as strawberry, peach, matcha, yuzu, cherry blossom, matcha, pineapple, walnut, or chestnut.
Warabi Mochi
Kubota’s Salted Warabi Mochi consists of a smooth bean paste wrapped in sticky rice cake. The rice cake is made from bracken starch and coated with roasted soybean flour to create the variant known as warabi mochi in traditional Japanese cuisine. The result is a deliciously nutty and savory treat.
Ramune Mochi
This is one of the brand's most innovative mochi. The Kubota Chewy Ramune Mochi is stuffed with ramune-flavored cake and marshmallows. Ramune is the most popular carbonated soft drink from Japan, but it’s hardly ever used as flavoring for rice cakes. The light and fizzy snack would have been impossible to pull off by any other confectionery.
Kusa Mochi
The kusa mochi product is made from black sesame, roasted soybean flour (kinako), and Japanese mugwort (yomogi). It’s made using traditional methods and ingredients from special regions in Nagano Prefecture. Kubota has created a variation of this product that contains Okinawan brown sugar syrup in the filling.
Bokksu is not responsible for the accuracy of the products’ nutritional or allergen information. Warning: California’s Proposition 65 may be in effect. For more information,visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. Some Bokksu Market products are produced overseas and may have a Production Date printed on the packaging, rather than a Best Buy Date as is standard in North America. If your product appears expired, do not be alarmed! This is most likely the Production Date. All items have been double checked to ensure they are not expired and safe to eat.
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Mitarashi Mochi
It’s inspired by the Mitarashi dango, rice dumplings covered with sweet soy glaze. However, Kubota Mitarashi Mochi uses sweet soy sauce as the filling and not the topping. This makes the product less messy to eat than the traditional dango.
Bokksu is not responsible for the accuracy of the products’ nutritional or allergen information. Warning: California’s Proposition 65 may be in effect. For more information,visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. Some Bokksu Market products are produced overseas and may have a Production Date printed on the packaging, rather than a Best Buy Date as is standard in North America. If your product appears expired, do not be alarmed! This is most likely the Production Date. All items have been double checked to ensure they are not expired and safe to eat.
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What's the Difference Between Mochi and Daifuku?
There seems to be a common confusion between mochi and daifuku. Many people believe they are the same snack and tend to use the terms interchangeably when discussing traditional Japanese sweets. However, the fact is that daifuku is a type of mochi. The main difference between the two is that daifuku is filled with sweet fillings. The most common daifuku filling is sweetened red bean paste, also known as anko. Hence, some people consider any mochi containing anko to be daifuku. Other sweet fillings you can find in daifuku are fruits like strawberry, apple, and peach or cream such as chocolate cream or custard cream. Mochi is a savory snack with a wide variety of culinary uses and can even be eaten plain. However, daifuku is often eaten with tea as a sweet dessert. Most of Kubota’s sweet offerings are daifuku, while the more savory products are other types of mochi.
How Is Daifuku Mochi Made and What Makes It So Special?
Top brands like Kubota make daifuku mochi using an intricate process that involves the careful balance of ingredients. The following is an overview of this process:
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Gyuhi formation: Rice flour is mixed with sugar and starch syrup. The mixture is boiled and kneaded to create a softer variety of mochi known as gyuhi.
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Dusting and flavoring: The mochi is spread out and dusted or flavored with other ingredients, depending on the type. For example, kinako for kusa mochi and soy sauce for walnut daifuku.
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Cutting: Mochi is cut into equal portions.
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Stuffing: Each portion of mochi is stuffed with pre-made sweet fillings to create daifuku.
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Kneading: The daifuku is shaped into round balls.
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Packaging: A specific number of daifuku balls are stored and sealed in protective bags.
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Quality control: The products are thoroughly assessed via sensory tests, expiration print checks, and weight inspections. Only those that pass this inspection are shipped.
Signature Flavors: What Sets Kubota Apart
Japan is home to hundreds of mochi makers. However, certain unique mochi flavors have defined Kubota's brand over the years. Kubota Daifuku Mochi: Peach is one of the most beloved summertime daifuku in Japan. Its refreshing creamy paste sets it apart from other kinds of mochi. Another unique option is the Kubota Daifuku Mochi: Yuzu, which offers balls of citrusy goodness. Its tart flavor brings a distinct balance to the chewy mochi. Both the peach and yuzu variants are available on Bokksu Market.
Seasonal Sensations: Kubota’s Limited Edition Mochi
The following are seasonal and limited edition mochi varieties that Kubota introduces throughout the year.
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Chewy Ramune Mochi (March to August): Ramune-flavored paste encased in mochi.
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Salted Warabi Mochi (March to August): Bean pasted covered by rice cakes coated with roasted soybean flour.
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Strawberry Daifuku (April to November): Strawberry granules are used to make the pasty filling.
Mochi Around the World: Global Favorites
Mochi’s global status has been greatly enhanced by the diversity of filling options available to different countries. In Japan, most people love to eat mochi with sweetened red bean paste. Other fillings and flavors have captivated palates beyond Japan. For example, in China, matcha is the preferred flavor. The green tea powder is used to coat the mochi dough or filling during preparation. People in the United States love chocolate and vanilla-filled daifuku, also known as mochi ice cream. Strawberry mochi is quite famous in Canada, and in Italy, there’s a strong preference for tiramisu-flavored mochi. Even Hawaiins enjoy the treat in the form of butter mochi.
Kubota in Japanese Celebrations
Kubota daifuku mochi products are incorporated into various Japanese festivals and celebrations. People eat their strawberry and cherry blossom flavors during hanami festivals in spring. Others enjoy it during Children’s Day parties, New Year's celebrations, and many other festivities that call for seasonal treats.
Are Mochi Healthy? Exploring Nutritional Benefits and Vegan Options
Consuming mochi comes with several health benefits. It’s high in energy and low in fat. Mochi is the perfect snack for people looking to cut down on fatty snacks and maintain a more balanced diet. It’s also naturally gluten-free, making it the ideal option for anyone suffering from celiac disease. Kubota offerings include vegan options made with fruits, plant seeds, and flower blossoms.
Bokksu is not responsible for the accuracy of the products’ nutritional or allergen information. Warning: California’s Proposition 65 may be in effect. For more information,visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. Some Bokksu Market products are produced overseas and may have a Production Date printed on the packaging, rather than a Best Buy Date as is standard in North America. If your product appears expired, do not be alarmed! This is most likely the Production Date. All items have been double checked to ensure they are not expired and safe to eat.
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Where Can You Find Authentic Kubota Mochi Online?
If you’re in the United States, the best place to shop for Kubota mochi products is Bokksu Market. All you have to do is explore our mochi collection to find a wide variety of these authentic Japanese treats. Our offerings include Kubota daifuku flavors such as peach, matcha, chestnut, and yuzu.
Preparing and Enjoying Mochi: Tips from Kubota
Anyone can prepare mochi at home with the following five ingredients: glutinous rice flour, sweetened red bean paste, cornstarch (or potato starch), sugar, and water. We don’t recommend that you use regular rice flour. Start by mixing the flour, sugar, and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Stir the mixture until it’s smooth. Use plastic wrap to cover the bowl and cook the mixture in a microwave for 3-4 minutes. Stir and then reheat for another 30 seconds. Next, place the cooked dough on a flat surface covered in cornstarch. Cut and roll the dough to form several balls. Flatten each ball and stuff it with frozen red bean paste. After reshaping each mochi ball, place it on parchment paper or muffin liner. It’s best to eat the mochi fresh. Feel free to cut it into smaller pieces and enjoy. To store mochi, put it in an airtight container and place the container in a freezer.
Pairing Mochi with Other Japanese Delicacies
Kubota mochi is a light snack that pairs well with green tea, coffee, or juice. You can also eat it with cheese, soy sauce, chicken, and pork. The best way to enjoy mochi is to pair it with food and drinks that enhance its chewy texture. Kubota’s role in bringing this traditional dessert to a global audience cannot be overstated. Discover these delights through Bokksu Market and find your best flavors from the comfort of your couch.
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