Natto

[caribou_gen]

I discovered that I can buy frozen natto at the T&T Market, and so I've been enjoying it as a snack lately. It is fermented soybeans and looks a lot like lumpy mucas that has a strong cheesy smell. In Japan, it tends to be one of those foods that the Japanese people test on foreigners to see what reaction they'll get. I developed a taste for it so I wouldn't be one of those who "failed" the test.

It is a popular food in Hokkaido and everyone I talked with there claimed it was really healthy for you. I just looked at my translated label and discovered the following is in each serving:

Fiber 12g (48% of daily req)
Protein 8g

That's pretty impressive. I think I'll continue to seek it out every chance I get. I wonder how that compares with edamame (regular ol' soybeans)?

Comments

[buhrger]

i might be able to be convinced to try this at some point

[boubabe.livejournal.com]

Excellent! Have you tried marmite or vegemite? If so, what did you think of those?

[xugou.livejournal.com]

I wonder if the cheesy smell is due to butanoic acid? I recall that Chinese people were generally repulsed by cheese smells - apparently not so for Japanese?

[buhrger]

i've tried at least one, and found it not horribly offensive, but also not an experience i had to repeat

[boubabe.livejournal.com]

I don't know enough about butanoic acid to be able to comment.

As for the Japanese, it seems it is either loved or hated, much like vegemite or marmite. The east seems to be known for liking it and the west for disliking it. *shrug* Hokkaido is considered "east".

[suzulan.livejournal.com]

Nope. No way. No thanks.