福丸饅頭 Kusa Daifuku : This mochi is from a small confectionary shop in Yanaka, Tokyo that serves a variety of fresh, seasonal mochi. I purchased this green mochi thinking it was matcha-flavored, but it’s actually made of mugwort, a type of medicinal plant of Chinese origin. It has a slightly bitter flavor that’s not at all sweet, like a mix of spinach and peppery parsley. It reminds me of a green smoothie in that people would enjoy it as a dessert, but it’s mostly savory. The texture of the mochi was perfect - more firm than most mochi I’ve had, but very satisfying in its chewiness and absolutely made fresh. The red bean inside was also very compact and lightly sweetened. Thankful to try this Japanese specialty and would love to visit this shop again! It cost about $1.50 for a piece. 5.0/5.0

exceptional japanese mochi kusa daifuku 5.0