Uguisu Mochi: Wagashi Sweet that Represents Early Spring
A while ago, my family was gifted a Wagashi or a traditional Japanese sweet called “Uguisu Mochi (うぐいすもち)” from a neighbor, and I enjoyed one a couple of days ago.
The confection was bought from a local confectionery shop, and its expiration date was short.
Uguisu Mochi (鶯餅)
Uguisu Mochi is a Wagashi that represents early spring. It is oblong shaped like an “Uguisu (鶯: Japanese nightingale or bush warbler)” bird.
The dough is a “Gyuhi (求肥)” made from Mochiko or Shiratamako flour kneaded with sugar and starch syrup.
It is filled with sweet Azuki red bean paste and coated with a type of Kinako called “Uguisuko (鶯粉)” (roasted green soybean flour).
The cake is said to have been named Uguisu Mochi by the famous samurai Hideyoshi Toyotomi around 1580.
It is a time-honored Wagashi sweet that should be tried this season!
(Reference Page: Wikipedia 鶯餅 )
