A Food Quiz for Seniors to Make Eating More Enjoyable

pickled plum

Food poisoning can be really scary when the weather turns hot and humid. That’s when pickled plums (umeboshi) come in handy. Umeboshi contain citric acid, which helps suppress the bacteria that cause food poisoning.

Surströmming

Surströmming is a canned salt-cured herring produced in Sweden. Its smell is said to be extremely strong—over six times stronger than freshly grilled kusaya. Moreover, if you open it indoors, the odor won’t dissipate for several days, so it seems better to open it outdoors.

Portuguese

Tempura is undoubtedly one of the quintessential dishes of Japanese cuisine. It’s a food unique to Japan. Interestingly, though, tempura is said to have been introduced by the Portuguese during the Muromachi period.

steamed pork bun

In the Kanto region it’s called nikuman, but in Kansai it’s called butaman. That’s because in Kansai the word “meat” generally refers to beef, so they started calling it butaman (pork bun).

cream puff

The “choux” in choux cream means “cabbage.” It’s said to have been named that because its appearance resembles a cabbage. The shape after baking looks just like a cabbage, doesn’t it?

Japan

Pasta dishes are often thought to have originated in Italy, but in fact they were born in Japan. It’s said that after World War II, Americans in Japan started the trend by eating boiled pasta mixed with ketchup.

No meat or fish used

Shojin ryori is considered a sacred cuisine and is eaten by those in training. It is characterized by the complete absence of meat and fish, offering gentle flavors that are kind to the body.