10 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT SUSHI

10. One of the key ingredients in Sushi is the rice. However the ironic thing was that the rice was never meant to be eaten. Way back in the 8th century preserving fish by salting it and then wrapping it in fermented rice was developed in South East Asia. The rice's purpose was to prevent the fish from spoiling and was tossed before the fish was eaten. Over time, the fermentation process needed less time and people just started to eat the rice along with the fish. And poof - was the birth of Sushi we have today. 

9. My personal favorite Sushi is the Salmon Sushi. Salmon rolls, spicy salmon...you name it. They make it and I'll eat it. But did you know that the Salmon Sushi was not invented up until the 1980's? Salmon is not native to Japan so it wasn't introduced until the Norwegians brought it over. Now it is one of the most popular choices of fish to be used for Sushi. 

8. Sushi got it's start as fast food. It's because its so convenient to pack and easily eaten anywhere on the go whether your at the movies or at the park. Because of this, it was a popular take out food in Japan. It wasn't until the early 20th century it transitioned to the expensive cuisine that is eaten in fancy restaurants that we have today. 

7. Avocado in Sushi was meant to be a substitute for Fatty Tuna. Fatty Tuna was expensive but avocados were plentiful in supply. Sushi chef Ichiro Mashita started to experiment with avocados as a substitute for the pricy fatty tuna and it came out well. With crab and cucumber as later additions, thus came the birth of the now famous first American sushi - California roll. 

6. It may take longer to become a master sushi chef then a doctor. Sushi chefs who prepare authentic Japanese sushi in Japan go through years of training, often up to a decade to become and earn the title of sushi master or iatamae as it is called in Japanese.  

5. Save the Chopsticks for the Sashimi. The right way to eat Sushi is by using your hands and fingers and eating the sushi all in one bite. Chopsticks are meant to be used for sashimi.  (Show Mark Weins video). This is what they do in the most Japanese Sushi restaurants in Japan. According to sushi master Koji Sawada, there are 3 steps to it. First you dip the sushi into the soy sauce, with your hand you feed yourself the sushi with the fish touching the tongue first. Third, you eat in all in one bite. Don't bite half. Its just that simple! 

Besides sashimi, chopsticks can be used for many other foods such as ramen, udon, rice, and other kinds of Asian cuisines. The chopsticks from Musubi Kiln are high quality chopsticks that are handcrafted and made in Japan. Check out this chopstick set which includes the chopsticks rest or these really cute looking origami chopstick rest set. 

Also check out this beautiful wooded sushi plate. Impress your dinner guests with this and is a great way to serve you take out sushi at home with elegance. 

Use coupon code: GeniusTomato get 5% off your total purchase. The link will be in the description box below. 

https://musubikiln.com/

4. Sushi Knives are sharpened daily. Sushi knives are one of a professional sushi chef's pride and most prized possession of their craft. It is believed that the sushi knives are descendants of the swords of the Samurai. It is sharpened daily to make sure it cuts fish with precise accuracy. 

3. From its humble beginnings to now a food that is loved globally, the sushi industry is worth 22 billion dollars in the United States alone. Not bad for a food that got its start as fast food in Japan

2. This might receive a thumbs down from the sushi lovers but we are all about informing on this channel. Many of the fish such as Tuna (especially Bluefin), mackerel, and sea bass used to make sushi contain high levels of mercury. But like all foods, it best to eat in moderation to limit exposure as who can say no to sushi!

1. If you thought your local sushi restaurant was expensive wait till you here this. According to Guinness world record, the most expensive sushi ever sold was a five-piece special nigiri roll priced at $1978. Wow, for that price it better come with gold? The answer is actually yes, it was made with edible gold, diamonds, and pearls.

And here is an extra fact: Wasabi is more than just a condiment. Wasabi has antimicrobial properties that helps fight the bacteria in raw fish. It’s flavor is also helps bring out the flavor in raw fish instead of masking it.