The Most Unusual Ingredients You Find in Japanese Food

The Japanese people have an exciting collection of cultural attributes. Everything from their clothing, language and food is highly tasteful. No wonder today Japanese restaurants around the world are gaining more and more popularity. This success is owed both to the Japanese culture of wonderful hospitality as well as the extremely delicious variety of dishes they offer to their guests. And what is the secret behind some of the more exotic dishes?

You guessed it right – exotic ingredients! Following is a list of strange ingredients used in Japanese dishes, just in case you find yourself at a Japanese restaurant here in Shanghai!

1. Hachinoko (Bee Larvae)

Hachinoko is simply Bee larvae. Yes, as if wasps didn’t suffice, Hachinoko is relished by the Japanese. It is usually added to beer in pubs! Imagine crunchy, maggoty bee larvae in your drink. Can there be any thing more exotic than that?

2. Wasps

Yes, the very wasps that you run away from in spring in your garden are devoured by the Japanese. They are present in cookies and add to the crunchiness of your bite! The Japanese find it both tasty and nutritious.

3. Shirouo no Odorigui (Dancing Icefish)

Shirouo are very small in size and are transparent. This as an ingredient is not exotic but the dish made out of it is! Did you ask how? Well… actually all you need to do to devour Shirouo no Odorigui is to let it swim in water in your eating bowl and have it straight from there! Yes, it will swim alive all the way from your mouth to your stomach!

4. Mozuku

Mozuku is stringy and soft seaweed that looks like human hair at first glance. Only poking it with your chopsticks or forks will tell you that it is softer and convince you to dare to actually put it in your mouth. However, once you’ve overcome your disgust for its looks, Mozuku can benefit your health by enhancing your killer T cell activity and boost your immune system. It contains fucoidan and is usually served with vinegar sauce to make it look a bit more appetizing.

5. Basashi Icecream

Well, the Japanese have ice creams of all flavours… Green tea, Indian curry and yes, of course, horse meat too. Surprised? I too was. But you must give it a try really.

6. Takoyaki/Negidako

Well, Takoyaki isn’t as exotic as the Korean dish, in which you eat live baby octopuses with some wasabi. Still, it is interesting enough – Takoyaki is made up of octopus balls! However exotic it may sound, it really is delicious and you can get hooked on it, too!

7. Apple and squid ink cakes

The Aomori province in Japan has given the world many flavors worth commending. One of its exotic recipes include the apple and squid ink cake! Yes, this cake is literally black in color having being made up of……black squid ink!!! But the taste is quite opposite to how the dish looks.

And there you have it, some of the most exotic Japanese flavors that you might find at your local Japanese restaurants in Shanghai. Try them all, your digestive system will thank you for it!

After travelling to Japan for years, Andrew has developed a real passion for Japan. Andrew is now living in Sydney where he helps restaurants with sushi machines and sushi conveyor belts. If you have any questions or comments about this article, please send him email at: sushimachine@fullsteamconsulting.com.au.