Tochi-mochi reminds me of blessings of forest

Today I went to the farmers' market in Takashima City located on the west side of Lake Biwa.(December 3, 2023)

What I wanted to buy was one of my favorite foods, Tochi-mochi. This is a rice cake made by steaming glutinous rice mixed with conkers after removal of harshness and then pounding them. This is a simple rice cake with a unique astringency and bitterness.

There is also Daifuku-mochi which is stuffed with red bean paste. I rather like simple Tochi-mochi. Because I can enjoy its unique taste.

When I arrived there, Tochi-mochi has been sold out within the morning. I think it was due to Sunday. A lot of customers seemed to have came here. So, I reluctantly bought Tochi-mochi in a vacuum pack at another farmers' market, as an alternative.

I would like to buy Tochi-mochi more often, but that farmers' market is located about 60 km away from home, so I can't go there frequently.

 ↑A big Japanese horse chestnut tree.

↑Conkers seemed to be still immature. (Above two photos were taken on August 21st, 2022)

↑These are Tochi-mochi

There are some wrinkles due to being vacuum packed. The black spots come from horse chestnuts. I think Tochi-mochi is less sticky than normal mochi.

↑Daifuku-mochi is stuffed with red bean paste.

The white powder on the surface is starch powder.