Mochi pounded with sugar added does not get completely hard even during the coldest period in winter and, therefore, such mochi was conveniently used as food for hunters and mountain-climbers in the old days.
砂糖を加えて搗いた餅は寒中でもすっかり硬くはならないので、昔は猟師や登山者の食料として重宝された。