Hishi mochi

Hishi mochi (菱餅, ひしもち) is a symbolic Japanese sweet associated with the Hinamatsuri "Girl's Day" festival, which coincides with the calendar date for Xiuxi (上巳). The sweet is diamond shaped and typically formed from three layers of red (pink), white, and green mochi, from top to bottom.[1][2] Depending on region, yellow may be substituted for red, or the sweet may have 5 or 7 layers instead. It is usually presented with hina dolls.

Hishi mochi
TypeWagashi
Place of originJapan
Main ingredientsMochi, fruit of Gardenia jasminoides, water caltrop, Gnaphalium affine

The shape is believed to have originated in the Edo period, and to be a representation of fertility.

Colors

The red of the mochi are derived from fruits of Gardenia jasminoides (山梔子), and is symbolic of peach flowers. The white is made from the water caltrop (菱, hishi), and represents the snow and its cleansing effects. Finally, the green is from Gnaphalium affine (ハハコグサ) or mugwort[3] like kusa mochi, and is believed to be a restorative that improves the blood.[1]

References
  1. Murooka, Yoshikatsu (2020-05-07). Japanese Food for Health and Longevity: The Science behind a Great Culinary Tradition. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 177. ISBN 978-1-5275-5043-8.
  2. Williams, Victoria R. (2016-11-21). Celebrating Life Customs around the World: From Baby Showers to Funerals [3 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-4408-3659-6.
  3. Kader, Jean-Claude; Delseny, Michel (2011-12-16). Advances in Botanical Research. Academic Press. p. 390. ISBN 978-0-12-385851-1.
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