UPDATE | February 03, 2022
What kind of Japanese restaurant is there in your country? From standard menus such as sushi and tempura to popular dishes such as ramen and curry rice, various Japanese dishes are now being eaten all over the world. This time, I would like to introduce the "Japanese taste" that you should definitely try when you visit Japan, along with the history.
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What kind of Japanese restaurant is there in your country?
From standard menus such as sushi and tempura to popular dishes such as ramen and curry rice, various Japanese dishes are now being eaten all over the world.
This time, I would like to introduce the "Japanese taste" that you should definitely try when you visit Japan, along with the history.
First of all, the Japanese taste that is loved all over the world is "Matcha".
Nowadays, it is written as "MATCHA" in English, and the number of shops selling matcha latte and matcha ice cream is increasing, and the popularity of matcha is increasing overseas.
Many people may think of matcha as sweet sweets, but in reality, matcha itself is very bitter.
In the first place, "Matcha" is a powder of tea leaves of the type called "Tencha".
It is cultivated in a special way so that it is not exposed to strong sunlight, steamed and dried to remove excess, so it is packed with umami and astringent ingredients.
Let's take a look at the history of matcha.
Tea was introduced from China to Japan around 800, and was initially taken as a medicine.
The culture of tea began to spread little by little, and from around 1200, tea cultivation began in earnest in Japan, mainly in the region called "Uji" in Kyoto.
From around this time, tea was used not only as a medicine but also as a drink for physical and mental health during meditation.
After that, around 1600, a tea master called "Sen no Rikyu" spread the method of enjoying a tea party using matcha. This is said to be the beginning of the tea ceremony.
Japan's "hospitality" spirit is reflected in the world of tea ceremony, in which guests are invited to the guest rooms to make tea while thinking about the other person and have them taste it with Japanese sweets.
Sen no Rikyu was strongly influenced by Zen, and the spirit of "Wabi-sabi", which is to accept and enjoy what is present in a simple manner, has spread with the spread of the tea ceremony.
When visiting Japan, I hope that you will experience not only matcha sweets but also the taste of real matcha so that you can feel the spiritual culture of the Japanese people behind it.
For first-time drinkers, matcha may give the impression that it is bitter and difficult to drink. In such a case, you can enjoy the bitterness of matcha with just the right balance by eating Japanese sweets first to sweeten your mouth and then drinking.
In Kyoto, you can experience the tea ceremony in various styles, from authentic to casual.
Among them, "Uji", which I introduced earlier, is the birthplace of tea culture, and there are many shops that sell matcha, and the whole city has a nice scent of tea.
You can easily get matcha and Japanese sweets at the teahouse, so if you want to taste authentic matcha, please visit Uji in Kyoto.
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Next, I would like to introduce "Miso," which is the basic taste of Japanese cuisine.
Miso can be eaten as it is as a fermented soybean food, or it can be used as a seasoning in various dishes.
When you hear "miso", the first thing you think of is "miso soup".
Miso came to Japan from China around the same time as tea around 800. It is said that the origin is soybeans, wheat, sake, salt and other fermented soybeans.
At first, it was eaten with rice as a side dish, but after that it developed into miso soup and gradually became a staple of Japanese meals.
Miso is not only delicious, but has long been famous as a "doctor-free" food, and contains a lot of nutrients that are good for the body. Many people drink miso soup every day, so it may be that many people live longer in Japan.
You can buy miso anywhere, such as at supermarkets and convenience stores. I also recommend instant miso soup, which is convenient when traveling, and I always bring it with me when I go abroad.
Another classic miso dish is "miso ramen."
Originating in Hokkaido, "Miso Butter Ramen" containing butter and corn is very popular.
The "spicy miso ramen" eaten in the Tohoku region is also very delicious.
In addition, we used miso such as "Saikyo-yaki", a dish of grilled fish soaked in white miso in Kyoto, and "Miso Dengaku", which is eaten with miso on daikon and konjac. There are many dishes.
If you find miso dishes on the menu of izakaya, please try it.
Speaking of Japanese specialties that clearly distinguish between likes and dislikes? When asked, many Japanese would say "natto".
Recently, it is often written as "Natto" in English, and it is becoming easier to obtain it overseas.
Like miso, natto has long been eaten in Japan as a fermented food. There are various theories about its origin, but when rice and beans began to be cultivated in Japan, natto bacteria developed when boiled soybeans were wrapped in straw, which was used for rice cultivation, and left for several days. It's the beginning.
When I tried it, it was surprisingly delicious, so it seems that it spread all over Japan before I knew it.
It has a unique scent and is sticky and stringy, so when you eat it for the first time, you need to be careful not to get it on your clothes.
It is recommended to add soy sauce and stir it many times, then add finely chopped green onions and perilla leaves and eat it to eliminate the odor.
If you stir it with raw eggs and eat it, you can enjoy a mysterious texture that is fluffy and sticky.
Also, some people say that it is best to eat it on top of hot cooked rice.
Natto has a strong impact on its appearance and aroma, but it is actually a nutritious health food. Especially in the Tohoku region, where the cold is severe, it is said that many people eat natto on a daily basis as a nutrient to survive the winter.
When you go to a supermarket in Japan, you will be surprised at the variety of natto. There are many variations such as the size of the beans and the presence or absence of odor, but all of them are reasonably priced, so please try them out and find your favorite natto.
How was that?
This time, I introduced three "Japanese tastes" that I would like you to experience when you visit Japan. By knowing the history and cultural background of the food, I think you can enjoy it more deeply.
If you want to know more about Japanese food culture and manners, please refer to this article.
What kind of meal do Japanese people eat? Japanese food culture
A freelance Japanese teacher and local guide from Osaka. I fell in love with Kyoto in 2020 and moved to 2021. Currently, while teaching Japanese mainly in private lessons, he plans and manages writing, Chinese-Japanese translation proofreading, and online experiences.
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