I think there are many Japanese famous foods or seasonings. For example, soy sauce is the most popular Japanese seasoning.
However, I want you not to forget about miso paste. Because many Japanese dishes are tasted with miso paste.
By the way, perhaps many people may know that the miso paste is made from soybeans. But, the knowledge of miso paste is not popular.
Then I will introduce miso paste. And I want you to know about Japanese one of the taste, then you love Japan.
1．What is the miso paste?
First of all, It is most important to understand what miso paste is. I think many foreign people know miso. However, I think we should reconfirm it. So let's study about miso paste again.
1-1．About miso
Miso paste is a traditional food in Japan. It is one of the fermented foods. You know, it is made by fermenting soybeans.
By the way, there are many kinds of miso paste, by containing ingredients, for example, containing rice, or wheat.
And there are many variations of the taste and flavor.
1-2．How to make miso
The miso paste is made in the factory, nowadays. But, the miso was made as homemade, originally.
Basically, miso is made from soybeans, salt, and rice malt.
The direction of making miso is below.
1. Wash the soybeans and soak in water.
2. Boil or steam the soaked soy beans.
3. Crush the soybeans.
4. Add a rice malt, and mix them.
5. Ferment the mixed materials.
In fact, there are many kinds of miso. There are some kinds of rice malts. Then the tastes are made differently.
1-3．The history of miso
First miso was made in ancient China. And the miso had come in the Heian period, almost 1000 years ago. But the miso was so expensive food, then ordinary people could not eat.
Then in the kamakura period, the first miso soup was made. And farmers had started making miso as preserved food. Then various dishes containing miso had developed.
By the way, in Japanese old generation, there is the Sengoku period. It had many warlords and had many wars. In this generation, miso was used as military provisions. The miso was a good source of protein.
Next, the Edo period had come. In the Edo period, many people went to Edo. And the population had increased. Then many local miso paste had gathered. And the dishes containing miso had developed.
And nowadays, the culture of miso paste is loved by many people in the world.
2．Kinds of miso
Perhaps, you had tasted miso paste. But, do you know kinds of miso?
There are 3 kinds of miso. Then I will introduce the kinds of miso.
2-1．Red miso
Red miso is a little brown miso. It has a salty taste, in usual.
The future of red miso is the direction of preparing soybeans and how long ferment.
Usually, red miso, the material of soybeans, should be steamed. And it is made by long fermentation. Then for keeping the quality, the miso is added a lot of salt.
2-2．White miso
White miso is a little white miso. It is not salty, but mild.
The direction of white miso is a little different to red miso.
Firstly, the material of soybeans should be boiled. It is the difference to red miso that is made by steamed soy beans.
Secondly, the period of fermentation is different. White miso is fermented for a short time.
2-3．Blended miso
Miso has some variations by rice malt. Blended miso is made by mixing another variation of miso.
For example, there is a miso that is fermented by the rice malt that is made from wheat. And there is another miso by another malt. Blended miso made by both miso should be mixed.
3．The famous place of miso
In Japan, there are many places that have good miso. So, I will introduce you to a good place for tasting miso.
3-1．Hokkaido
Hokkaido is a North island in Japan. And it is cold, basically.
Then, the period of fermentation should be very long. And the taste is salty.
Hokkaido is different in temperature and humidity. So the craftsmen considered the direction of making miso. Nowadays Hokkaido miso is based on the development of the good craftsmen's works.
3-2．Miyagi
Miyagi prefecture is known for the good rice called Sasanishiki. Then the miso called Sendai miso is made with the rice malt.
Sendai miso is red miso. So the soybeans are steamed and added to the rice malt that is made by rice of Miyagi.
The taste of Sendai miso is basically salty. But it has good flavor.
3-3．Nagano
Nagano is a special place about miso. The miso made in Nagano is the original miso. It is neither red or white. But, it would be near the white miso.
The difference of Nagano miso to white miso is the mixing ratio. And Nagano miso is more salty than white miso.
3-4．Kansai
Kansai miso is basically white miso. So the taste is mild.
The miso is not fermented for a long time. And, sometimes the miso contains starch syrup.
4．Exploring miso
You know, in Japan, there are many places that have different foods and cultures. So the best way of tasting miso is going to a place that is famous for miso.
The foreign travelers can go to various places by Japan rail pass. So I recommend you to have a trip to explore for the miso.
Anyway, In Japan, there is an interesting culture of miso. I think it is one of the best food cultures in Japan.
So, enjoy the miso culture by traveling to Japan!
