Zunda-mochi

Zunda-mochi (ずんだ餅) is a type of Japanese confectionary popular in northeastern Japan. It is sometimes translated as "green soybean rice cake."[1] It generally consists of a round cake of short-grained glutinous rice with sweetened mashed soybean paste on top. In some varieties, the green soybean paste entirely covers the white rice cake. In all cases, immature soybeans known as edamame are used. A closely related product is "kurumi-mochi", which uses walnuts instead of soybeans.[2]

Zunda-mochi
ずんだ餅
Zunda-mochi
TypeConfectionery
Place of originJapan
Region or stateEast Asia
Invented13th century?
Main ingredientssoybeans, glutinous rice, sugar, salt
Variationsnumerous
Similar disheszunda-daifuku, kurumi-mochi

Etymology

There are various theories about how the term zunda-mochi arose. According to one theory, the word zunda traces its roots to zuda (豆打), which refers to "bean-mashing."[3] Another theory suggests that zuda is derived from the jindachi sword of the famous warlord Date Masamune, who reputedly mashed beans with his sword during the Warring States period.[4] A third theory holds that a farmer named Jinta came up with the idea for this dish. Reputedly, the warlord Date Masamune liked this farmer's idea and named the product "jinta mochi."[5] Terms of zunda-mochi have evolved into several variants in diverse parts of northern Japan. Moreover, in some dialects the word "mochi" itself is pronounced "mozu".[6]

History

Zunda-mochi has a long history dating from at least Japan's Sengoku period. It is mentioned briefly in the diary of Prince Gosuko-in (1372-1456).[7] Reputedly zunda-mochi was a favorite dessert of Date Masamune.[8] It is perhaps for this reason that zunda-mochi is often regarded as a speciality of Sendai. At one time zunda-mochi was made by rice farmers soon after their summer soybean and rice harvest. It was likely used as an offering during the traditional obon and higan festivals. Eventually, it became a traditional sweet for various occasions such as weddings and funerals in some sections of northern Japan.[9]

Today zunda-mochi is manufactured and marketed in many forms. For example, zunda-mochi gift sets are sold by Japan Post, the nation's largest mail carrier.[10] Moreover, zunda-daifuku, which could be described as the inverse of zunda-mochi with the sticky rice on the outside and sweet bean-paste at the center, is popular in Miyagi prefecture. A related product is zunda cream dorayaki, which might be described as two pancakes with a creamy sweet soybean filling.[11] Zunda mochi ice cream is available in some parts of Sendai city and in 2019 Häagen-Dazs even released a limited edition of that product.[12] Since 2009 Nestlé Japan has marketed "Zunda-mochi" flavor Kit-Kat bars in some parts of northern Japan.[13] It is also possible to buy zunda-mochi shaved ice and milkshakes not only in parts of Japan, but also Hawaii.[14] Zunda-mochi related foods continue to evolve, often fusing elements of Western and Japanese cuisine.

See also

References
  1. "Zunda Mochi" ずんだ餅 [Edamame Rice Cake] (in Japanese). Oksfood. October 24, 2014. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022.
  2. "Kurumi Mochi (Walnut sticky rice cake)". JJ Kitchen in Tokyo. October 25, 2018. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022.
  3. "Zunda Mochi" ずんだ餅 [Edamame Rice Cake] (in Japanese). Nichigai Associates. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022.
  4. "What is zunda-mochi of Miyagi prefecture? An explanation of its origin and recipes" 【宮城県】【ずんだ餅】とは？発祥∙由来、作り方を解説 [&#91Miyagi ken] &#91zunda-mochi] to wa? Hasshō yurai, tsukurikata o kaisetsu] (in Japanese). Nippon no Kyōdo Ryōri Kankō Jiten. Archived from the original on February 4, 2022.
  5. "Zunda mochi (Miyagi ken)" ずんだ餅 宮城県 [Zunda-mochi (Miyagi prefecture)] (in Japanese). Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Archived from the original on February 4, 2022.
  6. "Dialect of Ishimori in northern Miyagi Prefecture" 石森の方言【石森(宮城県北部)弁辞書】 [Zunda-mochi (Miyagi prefecture)] (PDF) (in Japanese). Ni-ne Town Development Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 5, 2022.
  7. "Kanmon'nikki: Kenkon. &#911] - Kokuritsu Kokkaitoshokan Dejitaru Korekushon" 看聞日記 : 乾坤. &#911] - 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション [Diary of Things Heard : Heaven and Earth &#9111] - National Diet Library Digital Collection] (in Japanese). Japanese National Digital Library. doi:10.11501/2591270. Archived from the original on February 4, 2022.
  8. "Zunda Mochi". Food in Japan. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022.
  9. "Zundamochi to wa? Zunda no imi, yurai hasshō, eiyō ni tsuite kaisetsu!" ずんだ餅とは？ずんだの意味、由来∙発祥、栄養について解説！ [What is Zunda Mochi? An explanation of its meaning, origin, and nutritional information!] (in Japanese). Gotōji Japan. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022.
  10. "Kine-tsuki mochi tsumeawase zunda anko" 杵つき餅詰合せ　ずんだ・あんこ [Assorted rice cakes with pestle only, Zunda and red bean paste] (in Japanese). Japan Post Net Shopping. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022.
  11. "Zunda". Miyagi Prefectural Government. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022.
  12. Casey Baseel (October 1, 2019). "Zunda mochi ice cream". Archived from the original on February 5, 2022.
  13. "Enjoy the Flavours of Sendai with the Zunda Shake Kit Kat". Moshi Moshi Nippon. November 29, 2019. Archived from the original on February 20, 2022.
  14. Erin Kushimaejo. "Move Over Matcha, We're Adding Soybeans to Our Milkshakes Now". Spoon University. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022.
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