Raindrop cake
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| Type | Dessert |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Japan |
| Main ingredients | Water, agar |
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Raindrop cake is a dessert made of water and agar that is supposed to resemble a raindrop. It first became popular in Japan in 2014, and later gained international attention.
History
Originally a Japanese dessert known as mizu shingen mochi (水信玄餅), the dish was first created by Kinseiken Seika Company in Yamanashi Prefecture near Tokyo, Japan in 2014.[dubious – discuss][1][circular reference][2] Mizu means water and shingen mochi is a type of sweet rice cake (mochi) made by the Kinseiken company.[3] The year prior in 2013, the creator wanted to explore the idea of making edible water.[3] The dessert became a viral sensation and people made special trips to experience the dish.[2]
Darren Wong introduced the dish to the United States in New York City at the April 2016 Smorgasburg food fair.[2][4][5] Shortly after, London restaurant Yamagoya worked four months to develop another version.[2]
Description
The dish is made from mineral water and agar; thus, it has virtually no calories.[2][4][5] The water from the original dish was obtained from Mount Kaikoma of the Southern Japanese Alps, and it has been described as having a mildly sweet taste.[3] The agar is a vegetarian/vegan alternative to gelatin that is made from seaweed.[4][6] After being heated, it is molded and cooled.[4] A molasses-like syrup, called kuromitsu, and soybean flour, called kinako, are used as toppings.[2][4][5] The dish appears like a transparent raindrop, although it has also been compared to breast implants and jellyfish.[2][4] The largely tasteless dessert melts when it enters the mouth and must be eaten immediately, or it will melt and begin to evaporate after twenty minutes.[2][5]
The dessert is also sold in kits to be made at home.[6] It has been showcased by the mainstream media on The Today Show, BuzzFeed and ABC News.[6]
See also
References
- ^ "信玄餅". Wikipedia. 2019-11-09. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Maitland, Hayley (2018-08-14). "Everything You Need To Know About Raindrop Cakes". British Vogue. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
- ^ a b c "Mizu Shingen Mochi: Water You Can Eat?". Japan Info. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
- ^ a b c d e f "What is a Raindrop Cake – How to Make a Raindrop Cake". Delish. 2018-03-13. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
- ^ a b c d Strutner, Suzy; Aiken, Kristen (2016-03-31). "Get Ready, This Magical Raindrop Cake Is Coming To America". HuffPost. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
- ^ a b c "Raindrop Cake Making Kit". Raindrop Cake. 2017-08-08. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
External links
Media related to Raindrop cake at Wikimedia Commons