mochi

Mochi is characterized by its distinct elasticity and chewiness, a texture often described in Japanese as mochimochi. While it is frequently associated with sweet desserts and festive New Year celebrations, it is also used in savory dishes, such as being grilled with soy sauce or added to soups.

As a loanword from Japanese, it is typically treated as an uncountable mass noun when referring to the substance itself. When referring to individual pieces or specific varieties of the cake, it can be used countably, though it does not follow irregular pluralization patterns.