Japanese Food

Think of Japan, and you think of sushi. It’s as simple as that. Or is it? Because there is a whole world of sushi that you quite probably don’t know about. For a start, did you know that it originally came from near present-day Vietnam? Or that it was intended to be fast food that can be snacked upon with the fingers? Or how about the fact that the California roll comes from Vancouver? For more equally devastating bombshells and practical advice on the fishy delicacy, read on for our Beginner’s Guide to Sushi! The History of Sushi As previously mentioned, sushi originated somewhere along the Mekong Delta, although that initial dish bears little resemblance to what many would consider sushi today. Originally a form of preservation, fish was salted and stored with fermented rice that was discarded to leave the preserved fish. This is reflected in the word ‘sushi,’ which comes from an old word meaning ‘sour tasting.’ Sushi came to Japan via China in this fermented form – known today as ‘narezushi’ (馴れ寿司) – sometime around the eighth century and quickly became an essential source of protein, particularly in the winter months. By the Muromachi Period (1336 to…