[For Seniors] Let's have fun with an autumn-themed quiz!

Ginkgo nuts, which are plentiful in autumn, are said to be better not eaten in large quantities. Why is that?

Gingko nuts are harvested in abundance in autumn.

Many people find their distinctive flavor addictive.

Because of that, some may have been warned after almost eating too many.

The reason is that they can cause poisoning.

Specifically, they contain a toxic compound called methoxypyridoxine, which is said to cause vomiting and trembling in the hands and feet.

Eating them raw also carries a risk of food poisoning.

Please be very careful when eating them.

As a guideline, adults should limit themselves to about 10 nuts, and children to about 5.

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Mont Blanc, a cake made with chestnuts—one of autumn’s seasonal delights. What is the French “something” it’s named after?

Chestnuts are a quintessential ingredient of autumn.

There are many foods that use chestnuts, but among them, Mont Blanc cakes are especially popular.

Many people have probably tried one.

However, I think few people know the origin of Mont Blanc.

In fact, it’s named after something in France: Mont Blanc, the mountain.

By the way, Mont Blanc sits on the border between France and Italy and is also known as a famous destination for mountaineering.

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Autumn is when delicious new rice is harvested. What is the most widely produced rice variety in Japan?

Autumn is also the rice harvest season.

So here’s a question: Which rice variety is produced the most in Japan? The correct answer is Koshihikari.

It’s a famous variety everyone knows.

There are three main reasons for this.

First, it’s resistant to cold.

Second, it’s delicious and highly popular.

Third, it’s suitable for long-term storage.

However, although Koshihikari may seem perfect, it actually has a drawback: it’s susceptible to wind and disease.

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Though both ‘momiji’ and ‘kaede’ color the autumn in similar ways, what is the difference between them?

Many people enjoy viewing autumn foliage.

In particular, Japanese maples (momiji) and maples (kaede) delight us with their beautiful reds.

So, what’s the difference between momiji and kaede? You might figure it out by picturing their shapes.

The correct answer is the number of lobes (leaf divisions).

Momiji typically have 5–6 lobes, while kaede have as many as 9–11.

Incidentally, in formal botanical classification, both are considered “kaede” (maples).

This makes for a fun bit of trivia to share when you go leaf-peeping.

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On a bunch of grapes, going along the stem in order of “top,” “middle,” and “bottom,” which part is the sweetest?

One of autumn’s seasonal flavors is grapes.

Many people love them.

Here’s a quiz for you: “Which part of a bunch of grapes is the sweetest?” You might figure it out if you picture how grapes grow.

The correct answer is “the upper part near the stem.” Grapes start to ripen from the part closest to the stem, so the higher up they are, the sweeter they become.

So when you eat them, if you start from the less sweet bottom and work your way up, they’ll taste delicious right to the end.

This could be a fun question to ask before eating grapes!

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