There's a ton of variety in the coffee industry, but one of the seemingly elemental aspects is that the beverage comes in a cup or mug; with the Black Espresso Mochi from Little Moons, that's no longer the case. The treat is indeed filled with espresso, but it places a shot of the energizing drink inside a sweet rice ball called a mochi (a popular snack in Japan.)
Little Moons' Black Espresso Mochi takes its name not only from the espresso inside it, but also from its coating. The balls are covered in activated charcoal, a hip, Instagrammable ingredient that is touted as a superfood by its supporters. Clearly, Little Moons' treat is designed to not only provide an energy boost, but a social media boost as well.
The mochi balls are available at Little Moons' Selfridges pop-up in London until September 10th.
Espresso-Filled Rice Treats
Little Moons' Black Espresso Mochi is Covered with Charcoal Powder
Trend Themes
1. Alternative Coffee Formats - Innovate coffee consumption through novel formats, such as Little Moon's Black Espresso Mochi.
2. Activated Charcoal as a Superfood Ingredient - Utilize activated charcoal as an appealing ingredient in food and beverage products.
3. Cross-cultural Snack Innovation - Explore unique snack concepts and flavors from other cultures for inspiration and innovation.
Industry Implications
1. Coffee and Tea - The coffee and tea industry should experiment with alternative formats to continue innovating.
2. Food and Beverage - The food and beverage industry should consider using activated charcoal in products to appeal to the health-conscious market.
3. Snack Foods - The snack industry should explore unique snacks from other cultures to tap into new markets and inspire innovation.