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Nara, Japan: Mochi

Jiang wanted to be sure that I was comfortable on my flight, so he gave me this special treat. Mochi is made all over Japan; this is a special Nara version. The basic mochi ball is made of glutenous rice. The Nara version has a gentle green powder on top and red bean paste in the middle. They have a very soft and comforting texture and just enough sweetness to make the mouth water. The effect is a little like marshmallows but richer.

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