Superfood natto

[thomas]

Here's an interesting piece by the BBC on what they call a polarising food item: fermented soybeans.

I personally love natto and have it at least once a week. My wife hates it. Nattoumaki, natto over rice, ika natto...

The Japanese have long hailed nattō as a superfood and believe that consumption is linked to improved blood flow and reduced risk of stroke – factors that are particularly appealing in a country that is home to one of the world's oldest populations.

Japan’s most polarising superfood?

The Japanese have long hailed natto as a superfood – but its ammonia-like smell and mucus-like consistency make the fermented soybean dish a turnoff for many.

www.bbc.com

 

[Buntaro]

Natto; sticky, stringy, stinky

 

[mdchachi]

I don't like it but am happy that my kids do as I know it's healthy for them. They are not eating it as much now. Previously they would eat natto when I was not home for dinner due to business trip or something but I haven't left the house in months. My wife especially likes it because natto gohan or natto spaghetti is easy to prepare.

 

[thomas]

Japan's fermented soybean delicacy, nattō (納豆), is gaining international recognition. According to the Finance Ministry, natto exports reached a record high of 1.9 billion yen (USD 12.8 million) in 2023. Social media platforms are buzzing with videos showcasing how to enjoy this unique food, while retailers are innovating to make natto more appealing to a broader audience. Even in Tokyo's trendy Shimokitazawa neighbourhood, popular with foreign visitors, a natto speciality store, Natto Kobo Sendaiya Shimokitazawa, attracts customers worldwide. Zal Heiwa Sethna, a customer with Slovenian and Indian heritage, shared his enthusiasm, saying, "I eat natto every day because it's a fantastic protein source."

Sendaiya's most popular natto-based meal is an 850-yen ($5.7) combo dish of rice, miso soup, one raw egg and nine kinds of all-you-can-eat natto. "Foreign customers have increased recently and now account for about 10% of all our visitors," said manager Satoshi Nagatsuka. "They come here to experience, say, something scary but typically Japanese." Most foreign customers are from China, South Korea, Thailand, the U.S. and France, Nagatsuka said. A French man who visited the shop said, "Its flavour is like cheese and is unexpectedly tasty." To attract foreign customers, Sendaiya promotes baked natto doughnuts, stressing that natto kneaded into the dough is "non-smelling." The most popular is a 170-yen plain doughnut that is mildly sweet but still has the delicate aroma of natto -- so fragile that it is often unnoticeable unless said so. "We want to win over people who have previously avoided natto because of the gooeyness and smell," Nagatsuka said.

Nattou doughnuts

Nattou on potato crisps
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Photo credit: all photos by Yamada Manami

Paywall alert:

Natto wins new fans far beyond Japan

Fresh recipes could change how the world views the smelly fermented beans

asia.nikkei.com

Tabelog link:

Natto Kobo Sendaiya Shimokitazawa ten - Shimo Kitazawa/Cafeteria | Tabelog

Check out Natto Kobo Sendaiya Shimokitazawa ten (Shimo Kitazawa/Cafeteria、Side dishes, Delicatessen、Sweets) on Tabelog! [No Smoking] Discover Japanese restaurants featuring detailed information such as menus and maps, along with user-posted reviews, ratings, and photos!

tabelog.com

 

[thomas]

Our dogs have it daily, I eat it twice a week, but my wife still hates it.

"Divisive" is a bit rich, though...

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[mdchachi]

Wow. I've never gotten into exotic dog diets. We've always just given our dogs dog food.