Tohoku gourmet

Koriyama brand vegetables [Sasuke eggplant and Mankichidon]

Koriyama Brand Vegetables [Sasuke Eggplant and Mankichidon Edition] Cooking and Eating! [Fukushima Prefecture]

Koriyama City in Fukushima Prefecture produces vegetables called Koriyama Brand Vegetables

The distinctive vegetables unique to Koriyama, grown with the aim of establishing a brand, are varieties you won't find in your average supermarket or greengrocer. But don't be fooled into thinking they're just a novelty. You'll be amazed by their names, their appearance, and their deliciousness. These are truly talented vegetables that will give you a new eating experience

This time, we purchased two Koriyama brand vegetables available in the summer: " Sasuke Eggplant " and " Mankichi Don, " and we'll be reporting on how we cooked and ate them. We hope you'll use this as a reference for your next purchase.

What are Koriyama brand vegetables?

Koriyama City in Fukushima Prefecture is home to the Abukuma River, a first-class river. The city's rich soil and water help produce high-quality rice, making it renowned as one of the best rice-producing areas in the country. Just like rice, Koriyama producers, determined to "create something unique to Koriyama," have begun producing " Koriyama Brand Vegetables ."

Koriyama brand vegetables have three characteristics

  1. Taste is more important than market acceptance. Varieties that excel in taste are selected rather than uniform in shape or long shelf life
  2. Standardized cultivation methods prevent variations in quality
  3. The taste and nutritional content are analyzed and visualized, and the results are published on the official website and elsewhere

Even for the same vegetable, there are hundreds of varieties. For example, there are apparently around 300 varieties of carrots. From this huge number of varieties, we select based on "taste" from the consumer's perspective, rather than "ease of sale" from the seller's perspective. The growers are professional producers who know everything about vegetables. Special vegetables selected and grown by professionals are Koriyama brand vegetables. We continue to produce, sell, and promote vegetables with the aim of making them "chosen by consumers because they are delicious."

Koriyama Brand Vegetable Council <Information>

This time we will introduce "Sasuke Nasu" and "Mankichi Don"

Koriyama brand vegetables

Each vegetable grown as a Koriyama brand can only be found for a limited period of the year. Vegetables grown in the natural environment and by the people of Koriyama are delivered to consumers at their "most delicious time."

The vegetables I came across this time in early July were "Sasuke eggplant" and "Mankichidon." What kind of vegetables are they? Let me introduce their characteristics

What is "Sasuke eggplant"?

The Sasuke eggplant is beautifully presented, as if clad in a jet black dress. It usually starts to be shipped in early July and can be seen on the shelves until late October. The defining features of the Sasuke eggplant are, above all, its softness and sweetness. It has little bitterness, and one of its selling points is that it can be eaten raw. Even the skin is soft, so it can be eaten as is without peeling

By the way, those familiar with the Fukushima dialect may already know this, but the name Sasukenasu comes from the Fukushima dialect. "Sasukenai" means "no problem" or "it's okay." It's a warm phrase that means everything will be okay if you say "Sasukenee" when you're sad, angry, or tired. Apparently, the eggplant was named Sasukenasu because it is "sasukenai" even when eaten raw

What is "Mankichi-don"?

"Mankichi-don" is a cute, round onion. It is usually sold for a long period from late June until mid-March of the following year. Mankichi-don is characterized by its high sugar content. When heated, the sweetness is further concentrated, making it an onion with outstanding flavor

The name comes from Saito Mankichi, who made a great contribution to agriculture in Fukushima. A native of Fukushima Prefecture, he was a pioneer in agricultural economics in Japan. He personally visited rural areas, investigated the management conditions of farms, and built the foundations that supported the economic development of Japanese agriculture. It is said that this delicious onion was named in honour of Saito Mankichi's achievements

We tried Koriyama's brand vegetables, "Sasuke Eggplant" and "Mankichi Don"

Koriyama brand vegetables

These are the Sasuke eggplants and Mankichi-dons I got this time. The Koriyama brand vegetable logo is shining proudly

The selling price of each product is about the same as that of eggplants and onions at the same time of year. It's great that they're so affordable! You can see the efforts of the producers, who always sell with the consumer in mind

Sasuke eggplant

First, the Sasuke eggplant. Its moist, glossy surface is a sign of its freshness. There are no scratches or other blemishes, and its appearance gives the impression that it has been carefully grown

Sasuke eggplant

The first thing that comes to mind when you put the knife into the food is a "surprise." The sensation of cutting with the knife is not a "crunch" or a "crisp" but a "soft" sensation! The blade of the knife cuts smoothly without catching

I decided to try eating it raw, which is their specialty, and took a bite without any condiments, and was shocked a second time. It was shockingly soft. Not only was the texture soft, but the flavor was also soft. There was almost no bitterness or astringency to be found. The fact that it can be eaten in salads without peeling was certainly true

This time, I cut Sasuke eggplant into 1cm thick slices, kneaded chopped shiso leaves, and noodle soup base to make a simple pickled dish. Then, I was surprised for the third time. Within 10 minutes of kneading, the eggplant released its moisture and became soft. The dish was completed in record time..

Sasuke eggplant

When I tried it, the flavor had soaked right through to the center, as if it had been marinated for a long time. It had no bitterness, a moist and plump texture, and was very delicious

so perfect for eating raw that it would be a shame to cook it . The Sasuke eggplant has many surprises and delights...it's no ordinary eggplant.

Mankichi-don

Next up is Mankichi-don. Its round shape is cute

Mankichi-don

The cross section felt very silky to the touch, and you could see how thick each layer was

According to the official website, roasting them whole will bring out their amazing sweetness. This time, I wanted to enjoy it in a simpler and easier way, so I sliced ​​them and roasted them in a frying pan

Mankichi-don

I grilled it on both sides in a frying pan and then quickly drizzled it with bonito flakes and soy sauce. Even though it was grilled for a short time, it was perfectly tender. There was no spiciness at all. It had a smooth texture, and the sweet flesh glided right into my mouth. Onions are a standard grilled vegetable at yakiniku and BBQs, but the gentle flavor of Mankichidon is sure to be the perfect complement to the meat

Next time, I'll definitely try the slow-roasted Mankichidon! The taste really raised my expectations

summary

Koriyama Brand Vegetables are delicious vegetables that are unique to Koriyama and lovingly grown by producers . This time, I tried Sasuke eggplant and Mankichidon, and the vegetables, which were grown using seeds selected by vegetable professionals, were truly "as expected." It was fascinating to understand "why these seeds were chosen" the moment I tasted them.

If you happen to see Koriyama brand vegetables somewhere, be sure to give them a try. We're sure you'll add another delicious favorite to your collection

Koriyama brand vegetables

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Have you ever come across vegetables labeled "Koriyama Brand Vegetables"? Let's create a vegetable brand unique to Koriyama. These vegetables, all varieties you won't find in your average supermarket or greengrocer, are not just "unique" but also "delicious." You'll be amazed by their names, their appearances, and their flavors. Koriyama Brand Vegetables are high-quality vegetables that offer a new dining experience. This time, we purchased "Green Sweet" from Koriyama Brand Vegetables, and will report on our experience cooking and tasting them. We hope you'll find this useful as a reference for your shopping...
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Koriyama Brand Vegetables [Sasuke Eggplant and Mankichidon Edition] Cooking and Eating! [Fukushima Prefecture]
https://jp.neft.asia/archives/32739
Did you know that Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, has vegetables named "Koriyama Brand Vegetables"? These distinctive vegetables, cultivated with the aim of establishing a brand unique to Koriyama, are varieties you won't find in your average supermarket or greengrocer. But don't be fooled into thinking they're just a novelty. You'll be amazed by their names, their appearance, and their deliciousness. These are truly talented vegetables that will give you a new dining experience. This time, we purchased two Koriyama brand vegetables available in the summer: "Sasuke Eggplant" and "Mankichi Don," and will report on how we cooked and tasted them. Check them out...

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