Akafuku Mochi: Ankoro Mochi Rice Cake from Ise, Mie
Sweet red bean paste or Anko (餡子) is one of the essential ingredients for traditional Japanese confections or Wagashi (和菓子).
For example, when I think of Wagashi sweets with Anko paste, what comes to my mind right away is Ankoro Mochi (あんころ餅).
It is evident from its name that Ankoro Mochi uses Anko. The Japanese treat consists of a soft plain rice cake covered in sweet red bean paste.
It has long been a favorite among people, widely enjoyed in Japan today. And if you visit local areas, you may find sweets similar to Ankoro Mochi.
Akafuku Mochi (赤福餅)
The confection is very likely Akafuku Mochi (赤福餅) in the Kinki region, which isn’t a specialty of Osaka but one that Mie Prefecture boasts.
vs. Ankoro Mochi
Akafuku Mochi (赤福餅)
Akafuku Mochi is a sweet produced and sold by Akafuku (赤福), a confectionery company based in Ise City, Mie, with over 400 years of history.
Ankoro Mochi (あんころ餅)
One primary difference between Akafuku Mochi and Ankoro Mochi is whether there are ridges on the surface. The former has, but the latter usually doesn’t.
Features/Taste
Akafuku Mochi is a variant of Ankoro Mochi with a covering of Koshi-An (漉し餡), a representative variety of Anko made from smooth red bean paste.
Compared to other confections, the mochi part is so soft that tilting can easily collapse its shape.
Plus, the Koshi-An paste is so fresh with the right degree of sweetness that I love this confection very much.
(Reference Page: Wikipedia 赤福餅 )
