What to try in Japan?
The country has managed to maintain ancient traditions, but at the same time prefers to follow the ultramodern development path. Here, the cities of the future strangely coexist with the wonders of nature, and martial arts are taught in schools along with programming. Like everything in Japan, local dishes are admirable.
Japan is a world of unimaginable contrasts. The country has managed to maintain ancient traditions, but at the same time prefers to follow the ultramodern development path. Here, the cities of the future strangely coexist with the wonders of nature, and martial arts are taught in schools along with programming. Like everything in Japan, local dishes are admirable. Traditional goodies are often quite nutritious and consist predominantly of fresh seasonal produce. So, let’s choose the most popular dishes, without tasting which, leaving the islands is prohibited!
Top 6 Japanese dishes
1. Sushi. As Italy cannot be imagined without pizza, and France without fragrant croissants, Japan is always associated with sushi. This dish is known to everyone and everyone far beyond the borders of the country, but not to try it here would be a mistake. The traditional recipe is simple: a piece of fish with boiled rice, seasoned with vinegar. However, this is only a basic recipe. The variety of ingredients is amazing! Sushi are sharp, creamy, juicy and sweet – enjoy the maximum number of species.
What to try in Japan?
2. Ramen. Egg-fed wheat noodles served in broth are an amazing example of how a recipe for a completely different country has become part of Japanese national cuisine. The Japanese recipe originally invented in China was remade in their own way, giving the dish delicious taste. For the broth base, both meat products (pork, beef, poultry) and fish products (shark fins or dashi) are used. There are 4 types of soup preparation: with the addition of tonzo (pork bones and cartilage), miso, soy sauce or salt. If you think you should try sushi in Japan, choose ramen.
3. Kaiseki. The Japanese version of the European “haute cuisine” haute cuisine. A gourmet lunch with a change of dishes arose centuries ago, along with the tea ceremony in Kyoto, which to this day is considered the capital of kaiseki. No carefully designed menus – only the unlimited imagination and skill of the chef. A delightful procession of modest portions with a beautiful presentation on elegant dishes.
4. Soba. Long thin buckwheat noodles have long been the main ingredient in Japanese cuisine, especially in the mountainous regions where hardy buckwheat gives a wonderful harvest. Flour products are served either hot with soy sauce or slightly warm with broth. For piquancy, the dish is seasoned with ginger or wasabi.
5. Unagi. Grilled river eel cooked with smoke is what you should try first in Japan. According to legends, unagi perfectly rescues from the heat of the Japanese summer. The most delicious delicacy is served in many restaurants around the world, but it is local culinary specialists who cook and serve it according to old recipes. If you want to enjoy a meal, remember the main rule: fresh catch happens from May to October.
6. Yakitori. An analogue of the favorite kebab. The use of fried meat on bamboo sticks has long been considered the evening ritual of Buddhist warriors. Today, the Japanese support the tradition of their ancestors. Returning from work, men often enjoy yakitori, drinking it with beer or soda. Almost any part of the chicken is suitable for cooking, whether it is fillet or entrails. Served with salt or sweet soy sauce.
What kind of drinks does Japan offer?
Green tea. In Japan, there are many names for this tonic drink, but one type is found everywhere. We are talking about powdered matcha green tea. It is often used in traditional tea ceremonies, with a bitter taste that is slightly softened by the addition of milk.
Sake. Rice wine (namely wine, not vodka, as we used to think) is considered an almost national symbol of the island state. If you are considering what to try in Japan, so to speak, alcohol, choose wine from rice. Thanks to the special fermentation process, the drink is more like beer.
Sakura tea. The flowering period of Japanese cherries delights tourists and locals, luring everyone to cozy picnics in the canopy of trees covered with soft pink flowers. If you weren’t able to visit Japan in the spring, do not be discouraged. Enjoy an unusual sakura tea with a delicate aroma and slightly salty taste.
What about sweets?
The land of the rising sun is able to surprise with a variety of desserts, even the most demanding gourmets. And no wonder, after all, sweet treats in Japan were known long before the widespread distribution of sugar.
