Natto
 

EW. This stuff is GROSS. Fermented soy beans? Basically, rotting beans... Ugh. How can anyone eat this? I think I would vomit if I tried. Has anyone had this?

From Wikipedia:

The first thing noticed by the uninitiated after opening a pack of nattō is the very strong ammoniacal smell, akin to strong cheese. Stirring the nattō produces lots of spiderweb-like strings. The nattō itself has a nutty, savory, somewhat salty flavor that belies its odor.

Nattō is most commonly eaten at breakfast to accompany rice, possibly with some other ingredients, for example soy sauce, tsuyu broth, mustard, scallions, grated daikon, okra, or a raw quail egg. In Hokkaidō and northern Tohoku region, some people dust nattō with sugar. Nattō is also commonly used in other foods, such as nattō sushi, nattō toast, in miso soup, salad, as an ingredient in okonomiyaki, or even with spaghetti or as fried nattō. A dried form of nattō, having little odor or sliminess, can be eaten as a nutritious snack. There is even nattō ice cream.

Nattō is often considered an acquired taste and the perceived flavor of nattō can differ greatly between people; some find it tastes very strong and cheesy and may use it in small amounts to flavor rice or noodles, while others find it tastes "bland and unremarkable", requiring the addition of flavoring condiments such as mustard and soy sauce. Many non-Japanese find the taste very unpleasant, while others relish it as a delicacy. Some manufacturers produce an odorless or low-odor nattō. The split opinion about its appearance and taste might be compared to Vegemite in Australia and New Zealand, blue cheese in France, lutefisk in Norway and Sweden, Mämmi in Finland and Marmite in the UK. Even in Japan, nattō is more popular in some areas than in others. Nattō is known to be popular in the eastern Kantō region (Tokyo), but less popular in Kansai (Osaka, Kobe). About 236,000 tons of nattō are consumed in Japan each year.

Ain't that disgusting really, wiki makes it sounds like a pile of poop or
something. Ok I didn't try the ones you buy in a food court when I was
there, but from a stand. And that was good. Lut(e)fisk in Sweden is like ten
times more disgusting.

It just looks... really gross. I'm the kind of person who will try anything once. I've had escargot, chitlins, etc... but I just am really unsure about natto. Does it smell like wiki says it does?

Natto was indeed an "experience" I would say it taste the equivalent as Children do to Brocolli

（*＾＾）/~~~~~~~~~~◎

I just asked my sensei about this in class last night. He's from Osaka, though, so he knows what is but it didn't sound like he's ever had it... which is funny because the girl who sits next to me is from Seoul, S Korea and she has had natto. She said it wasn't that bad, but not especially desirable... and yes, it does smell.

If you call natto 'rotten beans', I'll have to call cheese 'rotten milk'.

Gross? Vomit? Thanks! No wonder many Japanese don't even come near JF.

Wow, super rude. That's why I asked about it, because I have never eaten nor seen it in person. All I know is that it sounds gross and looks gross by the picture. Cheese doesn't string up and get sticky like that.

I wasn't trying to insult anyone by stating my personal opinions on a food. I think you're a bit too sensitive if you're insulted by that. Kthxbye.

If you think that's rude, perhaps I should run around tell people they're rude because they think onions are nasty.

Hehe, Very clevar!

(*^_^;)_o/━━━━━━>ﾟ)))≫彡 ~ ~ ~

But its the same concept as cheese. so. he's made a valid point./

But I don't live in Japan, I am not from Japan, nor have I ever been to Japan. I know that! It says it smells like cheese, not that it's the same concept as cheese. That's why I asked about it. I still think he was a bit too sensitive.

That's a lotta horsesxxx plus ethnocentrism! Read what you said out loud once again. Why can't you be a lil more neutral in your wording if you are open to others' opinions about natto?

You sound like you're saying "We eat normal food. Why can't they do the same?" This is such a negative thread.

Again, someone who is too sensitive. I am very well aware that Americans don't eat normal food. Heck, I don't eat normal food. I just stated that it looked gross to me and that I wanted to know if it was really as gross and it sounds. Wow, I am not too sure if I want to go to Japan if you're all this touchy. I thought you guys were supposed to understanding towards people who arn't familiar with your culture?

If I really am ethnocentric like you claim I am, why would I be on this forum in the first place? Why would I listen to Jrock and why would I try to teach myself Japanese? Why would I want to someday pay a visit to Japan if I think I am so superior?

Can someone PLEASE lock this thread if everyone's going to be so sensitive about it?

natto has nothing to do with jrock.

Its just sort of unsensitive of you to diss japanese 'breakfast' food even before you tried it. I mean, you can't judge if you've never tried it.

i think you are the sensitive one here.

I apologize if I have insulted anyone. I did not feel like stating that I thought something sounded gross was going to personally offend someone.

People say something sounds nasty before trying it all the time. I suppose that I am supposed to say every food everywhere looks tasty in order to avoid insulting someone?

so...um...why don't you just try it and find out what it's like? wouldn't that be easier than arguing over it? and then your opinion would have more basis...and what d'ya know, you might actually like it!

It's a little difficult to find things like that out in the middle of nowhere, unfortunately.

yes, especially in america. but it's not a very good idea to form an opinion on something you have no experience in. it just makes you feel awkward... *grins and scratches head* though I've done that a lot too...like with anime, before I started watching it...and now I'm totally addicted to it...go figure...

Well, I still think it looks gross. I won't go back on that, but if I ever have a chance to try it, I will. Like I said before, I will try anything once.

How do you know if it's gross by just going by looks? You say you'll try anything once but by this comment I guess not. I've never had it but I am willing to try it after all I've always wanted to try Fugu (Blowfish) if not prepared right can kill you. So don't say you'll try anything once, if your just going by looks.

Scheisse how people react on a simple fucking thread.
Of course people think Natto looks gross before they've tried it,
of course there are LOADS of "disgusting-looking-food" out there
which tastes really nice, or bad. It's like you guys are defending your own fucking recipe when you get angry at someone who simple just think a food-type
doesn't looks/seems nice. Why are you so bothered?
I said once Dangos looks/smelled like crap because I wasn't used to this kind
of food. No I think different, but still, who cares if I thought of it like that?
It's my opinion. And not something other people should react like I've said
something stupid about their kiddo, or just because they've tried it
and think they know better than I.
Let her/him try it out when she/he does and let it go, savvy?

you missed the point.

i think it was the

'how can anyone eat this?'

could be seen as EXTREMELY rude.
Repeat what she said aloud to yourself.

Wow, you guys filled two whole pages complaining about how someone stated their opinion?

Personally, I think natto looks pretty nasty, too. If someone held it out to me and I'd never heard of natto, I'd probably make a face and push it away thinking "who on earth looked at that and thought 'FOOD!'???". It looks that bad, and if the stories are true then it smells like ammonia floor cleaner. Very appetizing :S .

Are you offended?

If yes, good. I've proved that you are way to touchy to be in an internet message board.

I don't think UtakataChan did or said anything wrong.

Masaegu, Yinnie... You guys are taking this a little too seriously -_- . Just 'cause someone thinks a delicacy looks gross, that doesn't make them ethnocentric or biggoted--especially since UtakataChan seems willing to try it when/if she ever gets a chance. So, chiiiill.

Thank you. :]

It really wasn't even my intention to insult anyone and I felt I had gotten my head unjustly bitten off.

As one who considers natto and one of my all time favorite vegetables, I can still understand anyone's revulsion on their first encounter. There are plenty of foods that I have had an extremely hard time taking the first taste of. As a kid I could not handle anything that had even been in the vicinty of sour cream. My father trained foreign pilots and every country seems to have at least a few foods that outsiders find thoroughly objectionable.

But I suggest that an effort be made to get over it and try a taste. Just one bite. I disagee with the wikipedia's description of it smell. It is nothing akin to ammonia! It smells exactly like what its most plentiful nutrient is - niacin (B vitamin). If you have ever noticed the funky smell of a multivitamin that has lots vitamin B or cod liver oil, that is the scent. And some people don't like that.

First timers need to be sure its good natto. I have had some that was dried out and probably old. Perhaps have it in a sushi roll with a little ume (salted plum) or perilla leaf. Some people like it combined with tuna, and that may be a good idea because the reason I don't like that combination is that the tuna overshadows the natto taste. Yes its stringy and sticky (aka sticky beans) but the stringier it is the better the flavor should be.

If you have an local Asian market, you should find it in the freezer case in packs of 3 small containers. I put one serving in the micro for about 1-2 min and then eat it with hot rice and shredded nori, with a little mustard (usually in the packet).

Thank you for the tips! I have indeed found an asian market in my city and I will try to see if they have some.

=.='''
natto ish annoying >.<'''
like...whenever trying to put it into a bloody roll =OO
the thing sticks to teh spoon so bad ;_;
and then after cutting the roll...you have to wash the knife and spoon and cutting board and bamboo mat..like immediately (which ish quite cumbersome when there are about 4 other orders waiting x.x'')

buut nee =D
other than that, natto ish quite lovely x3
though to this one, it smells a tad like ammonia >.>'
this one is quite interested in trying it <3
=D
despite working w/ it most everyday...this one has yet to gobble a spoonful x.x'

*droool* x.x

Natto x] how do you enjoy it?~
 

Soo...how do the people of JF enjoy THEIR natto? x]

Personally, this one loves it in a maki~ w/ thinly sliced negi, shaved katsuo, dab of hon-wasabi, and a pinch of goma :3

(that's fermented soy beans in a roll w/ green onions, bonito shavings, real wasabi, and sesame )

They're beans, right? I'm not a big fan of beans (as in, I haven't ever had any, EVER, but I assume they taste bad even though they probably don't -picky to the MAX-), how do they taste?

natto tastes like natto >.>'''
i've yet to encounter another food/substance that can be even compared to natto ._.

also x]
natto is one of those, hit or miss things~~
either you love it, or you hate it xD

I like it the way you like it, Yuuji! (Is it okay if I call you that?)

Looks like I'll have to try it, I hope, in my case, it's a hit xD Is it eaten warm, or cold?

it's okie :3

@drend room temp actually xDD or slightly cold >.>"''

Hi
 

I don't like natto but my mother eats it with Kimchee and sprout:D

kaiware right? xD
..or bean sprouts? ._.

Warm natto? :o

I always liked having it cold with wasabi and a wee bit of soy with a bowl of rice on the side.

add negi, tuna shavings, and some sesame? x]

I have tried it.. and I prefer not to touch that thing again..
I just take a sip of it and it really doesn't suit me at all..
huuhuhu

Once I tried nattō at a host family's house in Yokohama last summer; it stinks like hell and it tastes like crap.:mad: Not many Japanese like it either. I'm not trying to offend the Japanese, though; all other Japanese foods are awesome:o