What’s the iced snack of summer 2021? Forget Magnums and Haagen-Dazs, Britain’s most discerning freezers are fully stocked with mochi ice cream balls.
Yes, they’re tasty, but better still, a mochi is a fraction of the calories of a good scoop of decent ice cream (on average 70-80 calories compared to 140 calories), and because of the intriguing chewy texture of their dough, just one bite-sized mochi can satisfy the most insistent ice cream cravings.
A Japanese treat, mochi ice-cream balls are made by wrapping a glutinous rice dough around Italian ice cream.
In Japan, mochi is nothing new. They were a popular snack during the Heian period (794-1185), when farmers ate them for stamina during the winter and samurai took them on military expeditions.
Mochi are ice-cream balls (pictured) are made by wrapping a rice dough around Italian ice cream. The Japanese treat is a fraction of calories and the iced snack of summer 2021
Traditionally, mochi filled with azuki red bean paste are accompanied by green tea, still the custom in Japan. But in Britain, the ice cream-filled version has become one of the pandemic’s biggest success stories.
The obsession with the snacks started on TikTok, which is fast becoming a key driver for food trends. The video platform now has more than 15,000 mochi-themed clips, many of which show mochi fans going frantic about shortages in shops.
One of the most popular brands, Little Moons, saw sales rise a staggering 2,113 per cent during the first half of this year in Tesco (they’ve also been flying off the shelves in Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Ocado and Asda).
Siblings Vivien and Howard Wong, who started the brand from their London home kitchen ten years ago, say that two of their mochi balls are now consumed every second in the UK.
The brand is launching three quirkily British limited-edition flavours today: candy-floss, Eton mess and even fish and chips.
In response to demand, Aldi and Lidl have now created their own brands. Lidl has launched its Vitasia mochi balls just in time for summer with mango, vanilla, chocolate and coconut flavours selling at an alluring £2.99 for a pack of six (33 per cent cheaper than £4.50 Little Moons price tag at Tesco).
Shoppers have commented with evident glee: ‘Other than the shape of them (they’re more squat), they look like Little Moons dupes for a cheaper price!’ Another wrote: ‘They should call them Lidl Moon.’
One of the most popular brands, Little Moons, (pictured) saw sales rise a staggering 2,113 per cent during the first half of this year in Tesco
Rival supermarket Aldi rushed out the equally affordable Wao Mochi Balls in mid May which (also £2.99 for six) which come in tropical, mango and coconut flavours. Taking to the Aldi Shoppers UK Facebook forum, customers shared their excitement for the arrival of the irresistible dessert which sold out in less than two weeks, but is back in stock today.
One person wrote: ‘OMG Little Moons replicas. Maybe, I will actually be able to find these. Another commented: ‘I have been waiting for this one.’
Feeding the apparent appetite for all things mochi, London now has its first dedicated mochi bar, which opened at Soho’s Japan Centre last month.
When I visited the ice cream-hued bar stuffed with pastel coloured delicacies, I expected trendy TikTokers, but it was packed with families treating themselves to a day out.
Head of pastry at the Japan Centre, Ashan Fernando, believes the fact they source their ingredients directly from Japan gives their mochi an edge, and they are busy innovating with new mochi styles.
However, some of the most stylish mochi concoctions — challenging Laduree’s dainty French macarons as the new fashionista’s favourite — come from British-based Ai No Mochi.
Set up four years ago by former marketeer Kelly Yu and restaurateur Hayyan Choudhry, who met studying business at Kingston University in Surrey, it specialises in handmade mochi with ganache and cheesecake fillings. Flavours include a divine vivid pink raspberry mochi with raspberry and coconut ripple, Sicilian pistachio cream and Biscoff plus Nutella, all exquisitely presented and decorated like handmade artisan chocolates.
A one-off box of eight costs £18.50, while a personalised monthly subscription box of eight costs £16.80 (ainomochi.com). What started as a side hustle has now become their full-time business, supplying fashion clients including Dior.
For those unfazed by less familiar ingredients and techniques, there’s even a DIY mochi kit available from Box42Kits (etsy.com, £15.99) — surely the ultimate culinary one-upmanship gift.