The Secret to a Chewy Texture Lies in Choosing the Right Raw Materials
One of the elements that defines the appeal of wagashi is a chewy texture.
This distinctive texture changes significantly depending on the type of raw materials used and the blending balance. By understanding the characteristics of each type of flour—shiratama-ko (glutinous rice flour), mochi-ko (glutinous rice flour), joshin-ko (rice flour), kuzu starch, and so on—and combining them appropriately, you can achieve the ideal chewiness.
In fact, even flours derived from the same glutinous rice can yield surprisingly different textures depending on the production method. For example, shiratama-ko is made by grinding water-soaked glutinous rice and drying the sediment; because its particles are fine, it produces a smooth, silky texture. Mochi-ko, on the other hand, is made by breaking down steamed glutinous rice into powder, giving a stretchier, softer finish.
Professional wagashi artisans use these flours differently, and blend several together, according to the type of confection they want to make and the texture they seek.
Characteristics and Uses of Shiratama-ko, Mochi-ko, and Joshin-ko
Let's take a detailed look at the characteristics of each of the representative flours that create the chewy texture of wagashi.
The Features and Best Uses of Shiratama-ko
Shiratama-ko is a flour made by soaking glutinous rice in water, then grinding it, letting it settle, and drying it.
Its particles are extremely fine, and when mixed with water it forms a smooth batter. After boiling, it is characterized by a smooth, silky texture and an easy, pleasant swallow, making it ideal for the shiratama used in shiratama dumplings and anmitsu. Because no sugar is added to the batter, it doesn't have the stretch or stickiness of gyuhi, but it has the property of not hardening easily even when chilled.
The Softness Created by Mochi-ko
Mochi-ko is made by breaking down steamed glutinous rice into powder. Although it is derived from the same glutinous rice as shiratama-ko, the difference in production method produces a different texture. Batter made with mochi-ko retains the flavor of mochi while giving a stretchier, softer finish than mochi itself.
The production of gyuhi commonly uses a method called "mizu-neri" (water kneading), in which water is added to mochi-ko and kneaded, then sugar and mizuame (starch syrup) are added and it is kneaded while heating. When the sugars from sugar and mizuame combine with the starch, water retention increases, holding on to moisture; this is why gyuhi stays soft even after time passes.
The Role of Joshin-ko and Key Points for Blending
Joshin-ko is a flour made from uruchi-mai (ordinary, non-glutinous rice). Compared with flours derived from glutinous rice, it has less stickiness and is characterized by a texture that bites through crisply. "Suama," known in the Kanto region, uses this joshin-ko; it lacks the stretch of gyuhi and can be bitten through easily.
By blending in a small amount of joshin-ko, you can add a clean bite while retaining the chewiness.
The Translucency and Elasticity That Kuzu Starch and Starches Bring
When you want translucency and a distinctive elasticity in addition to a chewy texture, kuzu starch and various starches play an important role.
The Characteristics and Uses of Hon-kuzu Starch
Hon-kuzu powderis a starch extracted from kudzu root; heating it produces a smooth stickiness and translucency. It has a pleasant mouthfeel, and after cooling it has just the right elasticity and clean bite, with the advantage of resisting syneresis (water separation). It is used in kuzu-mochi, kuzu-manju, kuzu-kiri, and more, yielding a beautifully translucent finish and a smooth texture.
Powdered hon-kuzu has high solubility and resists clumping, making it easy to handle during the heating process and helping to maintain stable quality. It has the characteristic of not interfering with the color or flavor of ingredients, making it easy to use across a wide range of applications.
The Rarity of Warabi Starch and Its Substitutes
100% hon-warabi-ko (bracken starch) is the highest grade, characterized by a distinctive translucency and an elastic texture. It is an indispensable raw material for authentic warabi-mochi making, but its rarity makes it valuable, and it is used by high-end wagashi shops.
Generally, "warabi-mochi powder," which blends warabi starch with other starches, and blended raw materials such as "Warabi-gashi no Tomo" are used. These have good solubility and mix evenly with other ingredients, helping to reduce variation in the production process. They also tend to keep their quality stable even after heating, and are designed to retain translucency and a clean bite.
Characteristics of Other Starches
Various starches are used in wagashi production, including potato starch (katakuri-ko), wheat starch (uki-ko), sweet potato starch, lotus root starch, and cornstarch. Because each differs in viscosity, translucency, and texture, they are selected according to the purpose.
Pregelatinized starch (alpha starch) is a heat-treated starch that dissolves easily even in cold water, helping to simplify the production process.
Tips for Blending Ratios and Moisture Adjustment
To achieve the ideal chewy texture, adjusting the flour blending ratio and moisture content is extremely important.
The Basic Approach to Blending Ratios
Taking gyuhi as an example, it contains the same amount of sugar as the main ingredient, mochi-ko—or up to twice as much. When the sugars from sugar and mizuame combine with the starch, water retention increases, holding on to moisture. This is why gyuhi, unlike mochi, stays soft even after time passes.
Gyuhi is generally made by a method called "mizu-neri" (water kneading), in which water is added to mochi-ko and kneaded, then sugar and mizuame are added and it is kneaded while heating. There are also gyuhi made with an added "boiling" or "steaming" step, each with a subtly different mouthfeel. "Yude-neri" (boil kneading) becomes softer, while "mushi-neri" (steam kneading) keeps longer.
How Moisture Content Affects Texture
Increasing the moisture gives the batter a moist texture, but high-moisture batter doesn't keep well. By focusing on the balance of moisture and fat, you can make a batter that keeps well while retaining a moist texture.
Since water and oil don't normally mix, simply increasing the fat causes the oil to separate, resulting in a greasy texture. It is important to thoroughly "emulsify" the water-based ingredients (such as eggs) and the fat-based ingredients (such as fats and oils).
Adjusting for Season and Temperature
It is important to assess the temperature, humidity, and nature of the flours at any given time, and to subtly adjust the kneading by an artisan's instinct.
In summer, moisture evaporates quickly, so you adjust with a slightly higher moisture content, while in winter you keep it lower—fine adjustments to suit the season are necessary. Also, because flours change in how much moisture they absorb depending on storage conditions, the same blend can give a different finish.
Achieve the Ideal Texture with Minoyo's High-Quality Raw Materials
To achieve the chewy texture of wagashi, selecting high-quality raw materials is essential.
At Minoyo, we offerGenuine warabi starch, hon-kuzu, Zuiichi Hon-kuzu, and other top-grade products, as well as potato starch and wheat starch—a wide range of starches essential to making translucent wagashi. Sales center on bulk commercial packaging (5kg×3, 5kg×4, 10kg, 20kg, 25kg), providing a continuous supply of raw materials with stable quality.
We also offer our original "Tomo" series, which simplifies wagashi production, including Warabi-gashi no Tomo, Kuzu-gashi no Tomo, Mushi-yokan no Tomo, and Mizu-manju no Tomo—blended raw materials suited to various wagashi. These have good solubility and mix evenly with other ingredients, reducing variation in the production process and supporting the making of wagashi with stable quality.
Furthermore, as materials for shiruko, we offer top-grade white an such as Tokuichigo Sarashi-an and Fujijirushi Sarashi-an in 12kg specifications. Using an with an elegant sweetness and smooth mouthfeel lets you add a deep, rich flavor to chewy-textured wagashi.
See Minoyo's Product List Here
Summary: Understand the Characteristics of Your Raw Materials to Achieve the Ideal Texture
The chewy texture of wagashi is determined by the type of raw materials used, the blending balance, and moisture adjustment.
Shiratama-ko gives a smooth, silky texture; mochi-ko gives a soft, stretchy texture; joshin-ko gives a clean bite; and kuzu starch brings translucency and elasticity. It is important to understand the characteristics of each and to select and blend them appropriately according to the type of wagashi you want to make and the texture you seek.
In blending ratios, the amount of sugar and mizuame affects water retention and is the key to keeping wagashi soft even after time passes. For moisture content, you need to consider the balance between texture and shelf life, and make fine adjustments according to the season, temperature, and state of the flours.
By using high-quality raw materials, you can make wagashi of stable quality. At Minoyo, we offer a wide range of raw materials needed for wagashi production, from powdered hon-kuzu and blended raw materials such as Warabi-gashi no Tomo, to top-grade sarashi-an.
By deeply understanding the characteristics of your raw materials and carrying out the right blending and adjustment, you can achieve wagashi with the ideal chewy texture.
See Minoyo's Product List Here
Please feel free to consult us about commercial procurement and sample requests
Minoyo is a specialty store for Kyoto confectionery raw materials based in Kyoto. For the raw materials covered in this article, we offer proposals close to the realities of wagashi production, including commercial procurement, trial samples, and consultation on lots and specifications.
For Minoyo's business and strengths, please see Our Business & Why We Are Chosen . For the actual flow of doing business, see Ordering Process & How to Order; for questions, we have compiled them at Frequently Asked Questions . For individual consultations, please use Contact or material download to get in touch.
