These toppings and dishes can be either sweet or savory (or a little of both). Mochi in Japan is usually eaten with a variety of toppings, which adds flavor, or used as a component in a larger dish. Therefore, the flavor of plain mochi is actually somewhat bland, and without added sugar, the only sweetness comes from the starch of the rice itself. However, mochi in Japan refers to a rice cake made from pounded rice and no other ingredients.
A common misconception in America is that mochi is a sweet dessert. Although this dish is made WITH mochi, technically this should be called “daifuku” Is Mochi Sweet? It is most famously known as a Japanese food, but many countries use glutinous rice and glutinous rice flour in their cooking.
Mochikome is sometimes called “sticky rice” in other cuisines. Mochi is a dense rice cake made entirely from one ingredient: “glutinous rice,” or mochikome. Want to learn more about mochi? Read this post to learn what mochi is, different types of mochi, how to make mochi, and the differences between mochi in Japan and in America.
