5 Japanese Foods That Taste Unusual For Foreigners

GugelQ - Japan as one of the Asian countries that has the characteristic of its food is the reason people from other parts of the world come to visit the country with the nickname 'The country of the rising sun'.

In this time I will discuss about Japanese food that is not suitable for foreigners' tongues, from various types of Japanese food, of course there are foods that are a little less suited to the taste that is often felt in general.

1. Sashimi

Raw Fish Meat

Sashimi is certainly not foreign to our ears, right, the basic food is raw food or meat which generally uses fish meat. About the taste, you can imagine how raw fish is eaten with the addition of soy sauce, grated ginger, wasabi / grated Japanese cabbage or cocol sauce, the fishy aroma of fish will definitely be imagined and it's a little ticklish for a foreigner's tongue.

Not only fish, sometimes shellfish and shrimp are also made into sashimi with small, easy-to-eat slices. For those who eat sashimi for the first time, it may be difficult to swallow because they are not used to raw food and its fishy smell.

Those of you who are curious can try to buy fresh fish at the nearest market or supermarket, then slice it thinly or according to your size. Eaten dipped in soy sauce or spicy sauce, eat while soaking to make it more stable.

2. Shirako

Cod Sperm

Shirako is a typical Japanese food made from Cod Sperm, a soft texture like egg yolk but a bit chewy or even like a soft pudding texture.

The color is white and slightly opaque and looks pink according to the name of this food, shirako or meaning "white children" is very popular in Japan. Those who taste it for the first time will definitely feel nauseous when eating it, but Japanese people will suggest to eat it like tempura or fried foods wrapped in flour.

Japanese people believe that the content of fish sperm can inhibit premature aging, so those of you who don't want to look old can try this Japanese food. But surely this will be very contrary to the taste of food in general

3. Shiokara

Fermentation from the Sea

Shiokara or if interpreted shio (salt) and kara (derived / from) then you can guess how the taste of shiokara. Shiokara itself is a typical Japanese food made from fermented marine animals with a concentrated salt solution.

Fermentation with the addition of 10% salt and 30% rice sprouts are put in an airtight container for about 1 month. The result of this fermentation produces a very pungent aroma, even though not all Japanese people can eat this food.

Shiokara eaten in one swallow and followed by a drink that can neutralize the taste and aroma, but can be enjoyed with warm rice of course.

4. Natto

Sticky and Specially Scented Soybean Fermented

Natto, as well as shiokara made by fermentation. If shiokara is made from marine animals, then Natto is made from fermented soybean seeds to secrete mucus.

Natto itself was created accidentally, namely because of the war in Japan around the 1500s, after the war ended they realized that the stored soybean stock had rotted and had a slimy and sticky texture. The insistence on the availability of food that is running low, forcing the Japanese to eat the rotting soybeans, who would have thought that it tastes good is liked by the Japanese people until now.

Natto is often served as breakfast and eaten with rice, natto has a high nutritional and protein content.

Based on the experience of outsiders in Japan that this food is very incompatible with the taste of foreigners, the slimy texture and distinctive pungent aroma will certainly eliminate our appetite.

5. Hachinoko

Fried Bee Larva

Hachinoko or meaning 'bee child' is a Japanese snack made from insect larvae Hachinoko cooked by frying or steaming is very popular in Japan, the taste which is said to be sweet and has a high nutritional content is the reason this food is always consumed.

So what about Indonesians? Are they willing to eat fried wasps or honey bees that are still larvae? Please try at home, yes.. but be careful of bee stings.

So that's 5 Japanese foods that are popular in the land of the rising sun but give the impression of a taste that is quite extreme for foreigners