Natto is actually delicious, but some may require developing a taste for it.
Posted on 04/04/2014 3:14:20 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Japan’s latest eating contest puts Coney Island’s famous hot dog-eating contest to shame. At least most people like hot dogs. The city of Mito in Japan recently held a speed-eating contest to see which contestant could eat the most natto: a slimy, fermented bean paste that, according to the Japanese blog Kotaku, “smells like dirty socks.”
Natto has been dubbed by foreigners (and some Japanese), as the nation’s most disgusting food. It may well be Japan’s vegemite. Natto is made from fermented soybeans, and looks like its held together by sticky strings. In Eastern Japan it’s known as a delicacy, but the rest of the world is probably turned off by its pungent smell and odd taste.
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This year’s winner seriously looked like he was about to hurl, but said at the end of the contest, where he had to ingest a bowl of rice and natto in under a couple of minutes, and then eat as many bowls of natto as possible. “I'm satisfied because I shaved two minutes off last years’ time," said the two-time champion.
Natto is actually delicious, but some may require developing a taste for it.
I like it! It is delicious!
Can’t get past the smell. I’ll stick to sushi, thanks.
In western Japan (Kobe/Osaka/Kyoto), the locals despised the stuff but loved kimchi (Korean spicy cabbage). I spent seven years in eastern Japan (Tokyo area) and nine years in the west. I never learned to handle natto, but developed a fondness for kimchi.
And super super high in the Vitamin K2 complex, one of the hardest to get but one of the most critical ones.
I just don’t get the concept of eating stuff that is either terrible tasting or chemically-burn-your-mouth hot.
Why?
I understand that some foods are an acquired taste or are more culturally acceptable than one may like.
But why eat stuff that almost universally tastes like crap on purpose?
I have heard the same thing about lutefisk.
probably like developing a taste for cigarettes.
Mmmmmmm, lutefisk! It ain’t Christmas dinner without it.
My issue with natto is its use as a breakfast food. I can’t handle natto in the morning.
That photo of natto looks repulsive but I agree with you on the kimchi. I spent 16 months in South Korea courtesy of Uncle Sam and during that time I developed a taste for kimchi. I like all spicy stuff.
Kimchi is easy to like, s super spicy cabbage salad. But natto … !
They have a lutefisk/Norwegian meatball feed at the First Lutheran Church over in Williston, ND every year, said to be one of the best on the planet. It isn't far so I went over there and tried some (after being pestered to try it off and on for 30 years. I ate over a dozen of those huge meatballs for a chaser and still couldn't get the taste out of my mouth.
If we had cooked that where I grew up, the crabs would have swarmed the beach--we wouldn't have even had to set crabpots.
Beer plus kimchi, and four hours later you have a chemical weapon of mass destruction.
5.56mm
I’m with you. There’s plenty of stuff I like to eat...I don’t need to try and convince myself to like something just because it’s odd or trendy, or whatever.
I eat it on a healthful piece of toast for breakfast .
Japanese food is why I consider great Japanese cooking to be at the KFC in downtown Tokyo.
Not everyone finds everything equally hot or bad tasting. My mother will often cook something she says is very spicy and invite me to come try a bit, and I find it completely mild. even bland. Something I find has a good taste and leaves an enjoyable burn is damn near toxic waste by her standards. And yes...there is such a thing as a pleasant, enjoyable burn.
Similarly, I love horseradish mustard. No one else in the house can even stand the smell.
There’s just no accounting for taste....
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