MUSCAT : At Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, this celebrated sweet is taking on a new form, fused with Japanese mochi to create a cross-cultural dessert experience that reflects shared values between the Omani and Japanese people.

The initiative was launched by the Sultanate of Oman Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, where organizers sought to highlight the cultural significance of Omani halwa. Known historically as a gift of goodwill and friendship by Omani traders during their travels, the sweet now carries its legacy into a modern global setting through a creative blend with the traditional Japanese rice-based mochi.

Amjad bin Nasser Al Jadeedi, Operations Manager of the Oman Pavilion, explained that the concept of merging Omani halwa with Japanese mochi was developed as a way to represent both cultures harmoniously. He pointed out that the team reached out to a Japanese factory that specializes in mochi production and introduced them to the process of making Omani sweets. “The result was mochi filled with authentic Omani halwa, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive,” he added.

The Omani-flavoured mochi, along with cookies and cakes infused with Omani ingredients, is available at the café within the Oman Pavilion. The sweets are part of a broader sensory experience designed for pavilion visitors, engaging taste, smell, touch, and sight to leave a lasting cultural impression.

In addition to sweets, visitors can sample innovative beverages that highlight Omani flavours. These include a date and frankincense latte and a frankincense iced tea, both of which have been introduced for the first time at the Expo and have seen strong demand since the pavilion’s opening.

For all the latest news from Oman and GCC, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.