[For Seniors] Fun Food Trivia Quizzes You'll Want to Share

Under what kind of trees do matsutake mushrooms grow?

A beloved luxury ingredient! Here’s a fun fact: Under what kind of tree do matsutake mushrooms grow? Speaking of matsutake, they’re known as a quintessential flavor of autumn.

Because their harvest is limited, many people recognize them as a high-end ingredient.

Do you know which tree they grow under? The answer is the Japanese red pine (Akamatsu).

Matsutake settle on the roots of the red pine, forming a symbiotic structure called a mycorrhiza, through which they grow.

It’s the kind of trivia that makes you crave those wonderfully aromatic matsutake mushrooms.

When eating an ehomaki on Setsubun, what should you not do?

When it comes to foods you can’t do without on Setsubun, ehomaki rolls definitely come to mind.

They originally came from the Kansai region’s food culture and customs, but are said to have spread nationwide after convenience store chains and supermarkets began selling them.

In fact, there’s something you mustn’t do when eating ehomaki: chatting.

Proper etiquette is to silently eat the roll while facing that year’s lucky direction for Setsubun.

On Setsubun, keep this custom in mind and try eating it that way to invite good fortune.

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kojifumi

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What foods won’t freeze even if you put them in a household freezer?

People who work with cooking or are interested in it might know this! Here’s a fun fact: What food won’t freeze even when you put it in a typical household freezer? When we think of a freezer, it’s a device for freezing foods and storing frozen items or ice, right? But it turns out there are things that won’t freeze even in a cold freezer.

The answer is miso.

That’s because miso contains a lot of components other than water, such as salt and sugars.

It’s also said that freezing miso helps prevent changes in its flavor and color.

October 2 is Tofu Day. Which prefecture in Japan has the highest tofu production?

Tofu, a soy-based food indispensable to our meals.

October 2 is known as Tofu Day.

The reason is simple: in Japanese wordplay, 10 (tō) and 2 (fu) make “tōfu.” Here’s a question related to Tofu Day: Which prefecture produces the most tofu in Japan? The answer is Hokkaido.

Tofu is made from soybeans, and although most soybeans are imported from overseas, Hokkaido can produce soybeans stably, so there are many tofu manufacturers there.

On Tofu Day, be sure to try tofu from Hokkaido.

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sasashina

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What anniversary is the anniversary of the popular menu on May 6?

May 6 often ends up being a day off, coming right after a string of holidays, sometimes falling on a weekend or becoming a substitute holiday.

Let’s learn about the commemorative days on May 6—which can feel like a bit of an add-on—and deepen our interest in this date.

Since there are food-related observances, it could be fun to incorporate them into your menu for the day.

With the wish that families enjoy the dish during the outing season, and by playing on the way the numbers 5 and 6 are read in Japanese, May 6 has been designated as “Croquette Day.”

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kappamaki

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Persimmons are such a nutritious fruit that there’s a saying: “When persimmons turn red, the doctor turns blue.” What goes in the blank is “doctor.”

There’s a saying that goes, “When persimmons turn red, what turns blue?” The answer is “doctors.” It means that because persimmons are highly nutritious, eating them keeps people healthy, so doctors lose business and turn pale.

It’s also said that the season when persimmons ripen has pleasant weather, and fewer people fall ill.

Persimmons are rich in vitamin C and also contain carotenoids such as cryptoxanthin and lycopene, which are believed to help prevent colds, boost immunity, improve skin, and even slow aging.

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hiyori

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One high-end ingredient that represents autumn in Japan is described as having a “smell trapped in leather shoes,” and it isn’t commonly eaten in the West. What is this luxury ingredient?

As autumn is known for whetting the appetite, many delicious foods that boost our cravings come into season.

Starting with rice, there are also Pacific saury, sweet potatoes, chestnuts, pears, and grapes, but the true king of autumn flavors is undoubtedly matsutake mushrooms.

As a luxury ingredient, matsutake aren’t something we can easily enjoy every day, and their greatest allure lies in their uniquely sweet aroma.

This fragrance is said to stimulate the appetite and have a calming effect, and in recent years, it has reportedly been found to be potentially effective in helping prevent cancer.