Tsubaki-mochi was not eaten as a light meal like present-day sweets, but it was distributed to participants to big events such as kemari (a game played by aristocrats in the Heian period) at noblemen's residences.
現代の菓子のように日常的な間食に用いる物ではなく、貴族の館で大規模な蹴鞠の会が催されたときに参加者に配られていた。