Warabimochi (蕨餅) Japan’s non-rice mochi

Today let us see about Warabi mochi(蕨餅), one of Japan’s wagashi (Japanese confectionery). Warabi mochi(蕨餅) is made of bracken flour, called Warabiko (蕨粉) in Japanese, which makes it just melt in your mouths. Bracken (Warabi?蕨) is a large coarse fern found in Japan. ?Warabi（蕨） is a type of sansai or mountain herb　(Please see my article about Sansai here https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/sansai%E5%B1%B1%E8%8F%9C-japans-spring-mountain-vegetables-helen-xavier-dezoc/?msgConversationId=6506462723772112896&msgOverlay=true). These confections have no flavours of their own and therefore are sprinkled with sweet toasted soybeans floor, called kinako or Japanese Sugar syrup called Kuromitsu syrup. Matcha is also sprinkled to add flavour to the Warabimochi.

Warabi mochi(蕨餅) is a mochi but not the characteristic one made of pounded glutinous rice which has a soft sticky texture. The mochi here is just indicative of having a sticky consistency like the Glutinous rice based mochi. This is an interesting point, you should know!

History of Warabi mochi(蕨餅).

The history of Warabi mochi(蕨餅) dates to Heian period (795-1185) when it was a delicacy enjoyed by the aristocracy. The sweet was a favourite of Emperor Daigo who was the 60th Emperor of Japan. Then the confection was also called Okatayuu. Further the warabi was also one of emergency ration for folks affected by natural disasters at that time.

The Warabi mochi(蕨餅) is mentioned by Souboku who was a traveler and Renga poet. He reminisces about having had the same Warabi mochi(蕨餅) he had years back in a renga verse he composed.

Warabi mochi(蕨餅) is famously produced in Kakegawa City in Shizuoka Prefecture. Nara is also a famous place for Warabi mochi(蕨餅) production and both Nara and Kyoto have several stores specializing in Warabi mochi(蕨餅).

The Warabi mochi(蕨餅) became widely sold during the Edo Period and was one of the delicacies served in Japanese tea ceremonies. Presently it popular in the Kansai Region and Okinawa.

Warabi mochi(蕨餅) is also sold via mobile transport in several places like Hamamatsu in Shizuoka where the sweet is sold from a bicycle drawn trailer called a riaka（リアカ）, Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture and in Osaka where songs made for drawing people is recorded and played from the vehicle selling the sweet.

?Method of making Warabi mochi(蕨餅)

Mix Warabiko (蕨粉) with sugar and water.

In a stove, make it mushy by gelatinizing the starch which comes during heating.

Cool for 10 mins in the room temperature. ?Sprinkle Warabiko (蕨粉), Kuromitsu or matcha and make it tasty and flavorful.

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