Raindrop cake

Raindrop cake is a Japanese dessert made of water and agar, and looks like a big raindrop. It became popular in Japan in 2014 before gaining attention outside of Japan later on.

Raindrop cake
Raindrop Cake (28130238005).jpg
TypeWagashi[1][2] (Japanese confectionery)
Place of originJapan
Main ingredientsWater, agar

History

The Japanese name for the dessert is 水信玄餅.[3] The dish came from the Japanese dessert shingen mochi (信玄餅); made in the 1960s. Shingen Mochi was inspired by abekawa mochi (安倍川餅); eaten during Obon festival.

Shingen mochi, like abekawa mochi is covered in kinako.[4][5] It is named after Takeda Shingen, who ruled over Yamanshi. Legend says he used mochi as a ration during war.[5][6][7]

Mizu shingen mochi

 
Mount Kaikoma, the water source of mizu shingen mochi

Kinseiken created mizu shingen mochi.[8] The company is in Hakushu, Yamanashi that has fresh mineral water.

Shingen mochi (信玄餅) is a type of mochi made by Kinseiken.[8] The creator wanted makie edible water.[8] The dessert went viral and people went to the region just to try it.[9]

Darren Wong took it to the United States in New York City at the Smorgasburg food fair.[10][11] Later, Yamagoya worked to recreate it.[9] The dessert is sold in kits to made at home.[12]

 
Raindrop cake with kinako and kuromitsu

The dish is made of mineral water and agar; so it has almost no calories.[11] The water is from Mount Kaikoma; people say it’s somewhat sweet.[8] Agar is a vegan version of gelatin.

The water-agar mix is heated, then cooled and shaped.[10] Kuromitsu, and kinako, are used as toppings.[9] The dish looks like a raindrop, but it has been compared to breast implants and jellyfish.[9] The almost flavorless dessert melts when in the mouth and must be eaten quickly, or it willevaporate after twenty minutes.[9]

  1. "インスタで話題の「水信玄餅」って? 「天使の涙」との違いも調べてみた". Mynavi News. 15 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  2. "賞味期限がたったの30分! 山梨でしか味わえない絶品「水信玄餅」は事前準備をしっかりして挑むべし!". Rocket news 24. 23 June 2021. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  3. Crowley, Chris (March 31, 2016). "Here's the New Japanese Water Cake That Will Debut at Smorgasburg". Grub Street. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  4. "History of Kikyouya Company". Kikyouya Company (in 日本語). Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "信玄餅 | 金精軒". 金精軒 | 山梨県北杜市で和菓子屋を営んでおります。 (in 日本語). 2011-01-31. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  6. "Raindrop Cake, A Low Calorie Japanese Dessert You Need To Try!". Honest Food Talks. 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  7. Kay (June 4, 2014). "This amazing water cake just may be the most delicate sweet ever created!". SoraNews24. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Mizu Shingen Mochi: Water You Can Eat?". Japan Info. February 9, 2016. Archived from the original on 2018-03-16. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Maitland, Hayley (2018-08-14). "Everything You Need To Know About Raindrop Cakes". British Vogue. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
  10. 10.0 10.1 "What is a Raindrop Cake – How to Make a Raindrop Cake". Delish. 2018-03-13. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Strutner, Suzy; Aiken, Kristen (2016-03-31). "Get Ready, This Magical Raindrop Cake Is Coming To America". HuffPost. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
  12. "Raindrop Cake Making Kit". Raindrop Cake. 2017-08-08. Retrieved 2018-08-16.

External links

Raindrop Cake Media

  Media related to Raindrop cake at Wikimedia Commons