As the Uncle Tetsu chains expands across the GTA, their menu
continues to multiply as well. The latest location, HCafé Japanese Café, is
situated in the Emerald condominium at Yonge and Sheppard. The small retail store
not only offers all the cakes (Japanese cheesecake, no-bake cheesecake, and zuccotto) and smaller pastries (rusks
and madelines), but also a new line of mochi
as well.
There’s the traditional mochis
($3.10), the wrappers made of sticky rice and filled with a flavoured paste and
rolled in spice. You have to really like the herbal tastes of green tea to get
the matcha one as the unsweetened dusting
on the mochi is the first ingredient
to hit the tongue. Instantly, the golden bitter green tea essence floods the
mouth before you get to the sticky rice and finally the sugary red bean paste that
mellows out the dessert.
For something sweeter, the black sesame incorporates ground
seeds on top and a sizeable hunk of sweetened paste in the middle. It’s a safer
bet for Japanese mochi newbies.
If you’re looking for a unique sweet, their daifuku fruit line ($3.54) of mochis are something to behold. The
shell is made from sweetened glutinous flour, so the soft chewy cover is much
lighter. Inside each lies a fruit:
Delicate cubed fresh peaches with whipped cream that’s the
messiest to eat, but nice and light.
Frozen slices of bananas with the same cream, which if you
leave half an hour starts to defrost and turns creamy. Whereas, the frozen kiwi
takes a bit longer to melt, so if you’re like me and can’t wait long enough, it’s
like biting into a fresh fruit popsicle - rather refreshing during the summer.
Finally, my favourite, a sweet strawberry encapsulated in a
thin layer of red bean paste, which goes so well with the chewy mochi exterior.
Individually wrapped, they’re great for bringing to a pot
luck or snacking on. The daifuku fruit
ones are also surprisingly light, so good luck sticking with just one.
How To Find Them
Location: Toronto, Canada
Address: 4750 Yonge Street
Address: 4750 Yonge Street
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