Did you know that sushi was originally fermented food?

Recently, we came across this video about the history of sushi, and found it very interesting…

More than 1200 years ago, original form of sushi came from Southeast Asia as a means of preserving fish. Fish were salted and preserved with rice for 2 years. Then rice was discarded and only the fish was eaten. At that time, it was only for imperial family or nobles, or used as an offering to gods.

As time goes by, it became available to ordinary people and they started to eat rice as well as fish. Because of lacto-fermentation process, both rice and fish tasted sour. In 17th century, when vinegar started to be used widely, modern sushi that we know of, was created by seasoning rice and fish with vinegar without fermentation. By combining a small piece of fish with a small ball of rice, it became popular as street food in Tokyo at the time.

There are restaurants and stores who still make the original form of sushi (called Funa-zushi, or Nare-zushi) in Shiga prefecture, Japan. We are curious but kind of afraid about how fish fermented for 2 years taste like… Maybe one day, we will try and report to you.

We are trying to create 2 new fun products before Christmas.

As always, we will send out a separate email on Tuesday about availability for Wednesday pick up.

Our market schedule is as follows:

• Island Roots Farmers’ Market: Beban Park, 2300 Bowen Road, Nanaimo, 3 – 6pm on Wednesday
• AGI Market: AGI Hall, Gabriola, 10am – 1pm on Saturday

Have a beautiful week!