Hineri mochi (steamed rice test by hand)

Hineri mochi is a small portion of freshly steamed rice taken out during sake brewing, then crushed and kneaded by hand in the palm into a rice-cake-like mass. This is done to check how well the rice has been steamed, and the result should have the proper texture and stickiness. By examining the hineri mochi, brewers judge whether the sake rice has been steamed properly and is in the best condition for the later stages of brewing.