noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
freshly pounded; fresh from the mortar
Describes mochi (rice cake) that has just been pounded and is still soft and warm. Often used in the phrase つきたての餅.
つきたてのお餅は柔らかくて美味しい。
Freshly pounded mochi is soft and delicious.
お正月にはつきたての餅を食べるのが楽しみだ。
I look forward to eating freshly pounded mochi at New Year's.
餅つき refers to the act of pounding mochi, while つきたて describes the freshly pounded state of the mochi itself.
Compound of 搗き (tsuki), the continuative form of 搗く (tsuku, 'to pound'), and 立て (tate, 'just done'). The kanji 搗 is specific to pounding grains or mochi.