Jyunsai Nabe – Akita’s Distinctive Water Protect Scorching Pot

In the event you go to Akita Prefecture in Japan, you’ll discover a sizzling pot dish that’s in contrast to anything. It’s referred to as Jyunsai Nabe, and it encompasses a particular water plant referred to as jyunsai as its important ingredient. This dish brings collectively recent, native substances in a heat and flavorful broth, providing a style that’s each conventional and refreshing.

What Is Jyunsai Nabe?

Jyunsai Nabe comes from the city of Mitane in Akita. The star ingredient, jyunsai, is a small, inexperienced water plant that grows in ponds and marshes. What makes jyunsai particular is its texture. It feels slippery and clean, however has a comfortable chew. When individuals prepare dinner it in a sizzling pot, it provides a enjoyable and distinctive texture that stands out from different greens.

Cooks normally pair jyunsai with Hinai Jidori rooster, a high-quality native rooster that has a wealthy taste. In addition they add greens like burdock root (referred to as gobo in Japanese), which provides the dish an earthy depth. The clear broth ties every little thing collectively, letting the recent substances shine with out being too heavy.

One essential factor to know: jyunsai holds warmth nicely due to its slimy coating. So, let it cool for a number of seconds earlier than consuming to keep away from burning your mouth.

Reference: Water Tradition Subject 77

The Historical past of Jyunsai and How It Grew to become a Native Favourite

Jyunsai has grown in Japan for a very long time. Previously, it unfold naturally in shallow ponds and marshes. Individuals in Akita, particularly in Mitane, used to assemble jyunsai from a marsh referred to as Kakusuke. Locals as soon as referred to as it “Nunawa,” which suggests “marsh rope,” due to its lengthy, stringy look.

As time handed, pure jyunsai turned more durable to seek out. Air pollution and adjustments in land use triggered many wetlands to vanish. However as an alternative of letting jyunsai vanish, individuals in Mitane took motion. They cleaned up the marshes and created new spots to develop it. In addition they began farming jyunsai to ensure future generations might get pleasure from it too.

As we speak, Mitane is without doubt one of the prime producers of jyunsai in Japan. Locals nonetheless choose it by hand, utilizing small wood boats to glide throughout the marshes. This cautious methodology retains the vegetation from getting broken. It’s additionally a part of a beloved summer season custom within the city. You possibly can even watch or participate within the harvest in the event you go to in the course of the season.

The place to eat Jyunsai Nabe?

Akita Kiritanpo Store (秋田きりたんぽ屋)

Akita Kiritanpo Ya (秋田きりたんぽ屋) is a highly-regarded restaurant in Akita Metropolis, specializing in Kiritanpo, the enduring sizzling pot dish of Akita Prefecture. In addition to their well-known Kiritanpo Nabe, Akita Kiritanpo Ya additionally serves quite a lot of different Akita native dishes, together with Hinai rooster specialties and Jyunsai Nabe hotpot.

Deal with: 1F Midoriya Ekimae Constructing, 2-7-6 Nakadori, Akita Metropolis, Akita Prefecture
Telephone quantity: 050-5457-9230
Hours open: 17:00 – 00:00 LO 23:30
Web site: http://marutomisuisan.jpn.com/kiritanpoya/

Last Ideas

Jyunsai Nabe isn’t only a dish—it tells a narrative concerning the individuals of Akita and their robust ties to nature. They labored laborious to guard a plant that many others forgot about, they usually turned it into one thing particular on the dinner desk.

In the event you get pleasure from sizzling pot dishes, Jyunsai Nabe gives one thing new. It’s lighter than another sorts however nonetheless filled with taste. It additionally offers you a uncommon likelihood to style a plant that grows solely in sure components of Japan and is harvested with nice care.

After attempting Jyunsai Nabe, you would possibly need to discover different Japanese sizzling pots too. Dishes like Sukiyaki, Shabu-shabu, or Chanko Nabe every convey their very own flavors and traditions. However in the event you’re in search of one thing native, recent, and slightly totally different, Jyunsai Nabe is the right place to start out.