Mochi ice cream is a Japanese confection made from mochi (pulverized sticky rice) with an ice cream filling.
Originally created by Lotte, a Japanese confectionery company, as Yukimi Daifuku in 1981. Lotte first made the product by using a rice starch instead of sticky rice and a type of ice milk instead of real ice cream Mochi ice cream is now an internationally recognized food. Current marketing names include Mikawaya's "Mochi Ice Cream" in the United States (also utilized by other companies), which began production of what is now known as mochi ice cream in the United States in 1993. Mainstream America Embraces Mochi Ice Cream, sushiandtofu.com, All Japan News, December, 2001. History of Mochi Ice Cream and Mikawaya Bakery-Confectionery. URL accessed August 10, 2006.
