Mochi Ice Cream – An All Natural, Low Calorie Gourmet Frozen Dessert

Mochi ice cream is a small rounded frozen dessert ball consisting of an ice cream center wrapped in a slightly chewy and sweet rice dough. Many people are drawn to this dessert not only for its delicious taste, but because of the low caloric values of its servings. For instance, the mochi ice cream made by the company Mochidoki averages just 130 calories with 3.5 grams of fat.

Mochi ice cream originally comes from Japan, and is traditionally filled with azuki red bean flavored ice cream. These days, you can find mochi ice cream in a wide variety of flavors. These flavors include ones that are more common to the typical American taste buds such as chocolate and vanilla chocolate chip, as well as flavors that would interest those with a more adventurous palate, including black sesame and ginger zing.

This tasty treat is unique from other types of frozen desserts, in that you can hold it directly in your hand (not on a stick) without making a mess. Unlike other handheld frozen desserts such as ice cream sandwiches, the thin rice dough outside (the mochi) isn’t sticky and won’t melt or fall apart while you hold it. The concept of mochi ice cream also plays into the popular trend toward single portion sizes, which helps the health conscious consumer that is looking for a decadent treat keep from overindulging.

 

Mochi ice cream is also a great option for people that are looking for a dessert made with all natural ingredients. Many brands of mochi ice cream are free of artificial colors and sweeteners, and only use natural flavors. Certain brands are even kosher certified.  If you are worried about the effect of hormones on your health, stick with brands that are free of rBST and rBGH hormones.