Natto

So, I have been missing in action for quite some time, at least that's what I think so. My blog is still stuck in August. Though it's just mid-September, but I have so much to share with you all. Just got to spend some days in to blog about my stories of my final few days in Chicago and some other states, also ended my 3.5 years time in US. *stay tune*

I finally get to settle down, get back some quality sleep and back to blogging, thank you for your patience! 

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This post is about the different brands of natto I have had when I was in Chicago, which I have gotten em' from Mitsuwa Market Place, the Japanese market. (Refer here for my blogpost about this place)

Honestly, I am a little ashamed to say that I don't know what natto is until my roommate, Bobo told me about it some time early this year. She is a fan of natto and will search around Japanese restaurants in San Francisco (when we were there last December), just to have a bowl of natto with raw egg, the way she would love her natto to be served. When she get to the chance to go Mitsuwa, she would grab packets of natto home and stored them in the freezer and slowly consume, consume them in less than 3 weeks. That time, I was just amazed by her love towards natto.

Natto is definitely not a new thing in Malaysia, I had it once during Chinese New Year 2015 at Sushi Zanmai, because my dad ordered it. 

clearly I am the ignorant one.

I decided to try out different kinds of natto and bought 6 different brands on July 25, and crazy lots of salmon which I have to finish in 3-4 days (to maintain the freshness). *Sign of a food hoarder*

Total of 19 packets of natto

1. Tsurumoko Chutsubu Kuroma - $2.19

Size: big (though it stated medium in size).

Texture: just nice

Sauce: yellow mustard & soy sauce

3 packets

3 stars; something different from the others. A different variety of soybean, that is why it is black in color. The only black soybean natto I've tried.

Doesn't tastes much different from the usual brown natto

2. Kanasago Oishi Mugiiri - $2.19

Size: small

Texture: just nice

Sauce: yellow mustard & soy sauce

3 packets

3 stars; did not write any notes for this one besides "3 stars" lol.

3. Marukin Wasabi Natto - $2.49

Size: big

Texture: just nice

Sauce: wasabi & soy sauce

3 packets

3.5 stars; I like the idea that this is a wasabi flavor, though we know how wasabi does to our nose and eyes (burning sensation), but in overall this is a decent natto packet.

4. Osato Yukihomare Natto - $2.79

Size: big

Texture: so so

Sauce: yellow mustard & soy sauce

3 packets

2.5 stars; 

5. Mameki Kitano Suzu Natto - $2.49

Size: big

Texture: love it

Sauce: yellow mustard & soy sauce

3 packets

4.0 stars; perfect texture, not too hard nor soft- 4 stars it is!

6. Sirakiku Mito Natto - $2.49

Size: big (though it stated small in size)

Texture: didn't like it.

Sauce: yellow mustard & soy sauce

4 packets

2.5 stars; the way I have my natto is simple, I just mix all the sauce inside, mix it up and have a bite. The reaction I had for this is just 

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Got another batch of natto on August 6, even I still have leftover natto from before. This is me, a food hoarder. Roommate Bobo always say if I'm preparing for a zombie apocalypse. 

She once asked me "why do you keep buying food? Don't you still have food in the fridge and cupboard?" 

My reply was "oh no, I want this food but I don't have it". (The question is, what about other food that I still have? ) Well, at least we both know we will definitely survive a zombie attack. 

7. Marukin Dashikake Natto - $2.49

Size: big 

Texture: perfectly good

Sauce: yellow mustard & soy sauce

3 packets

3.5 stars; this is the same brand as the No. 3 wasabi natto. The soy sauce is a little different in taste from other brands.

8. Okame Gokukotsubu - $2.69

Size: small

Texture: perfectly good

Sauce: yellow mustard & soy sauce

3 packets

3.5 stars; this is the same brand as the No. 3 wasabi natto. The soy sauce is a little different in taste from other brands.

9. Hiruzen Kotsubu Natto - $1.99

Size: small (but bigger than usual small)

Texture: perfectly good

Sauce: yellow mustard & soy sauce

4 packets

4.0 stars; neither too hard nor soft, perfect texture. 

 

10. Nattoya Kotsubu Natto - $1.49

Size: big (though it stated small in size)

Texture: dislike the texture, didn't like it.

Sauce: yellow mustard & soy sauce

3 packets

2.5 stars; 

Self sliced salmon, doesn't look appetizing but it's good yo!

Most of em' look like this. Remove the transparent plastic cover, and squeeze in the sauce, mix it and  voila! You may start digging in.

This is an example of small size natto and how it looks like when it's all mixed up. Very sticky and slimy; taste very sophisticated, not a type of food for everyone I guess. However, this tiny little natto is full of fibre, protein and vitamin K (reduce blood clot). So far my guy friends do not like it, except for my dad. 

 oh did I mention it beautifies the skin? 

 Got to start finding packets like this in Malaysia. Usually just a Bobo and I just had one of this for lunch. I once had 3 in one shot, and the aftermath was that I was dehydrated, too much soy sauce. Never doing it again! 

Favorite way of eating natto would be with a bowl of hot pipping rice and a sunny side up and I .

Attached a picture of myself *teehee*