A Delicacy from Noto! Fully Enjoy “Sea Cucumber,” the Treasure of the Sea
Japanese people have had a long relationship with sea cucumbers, which has even been sold as a luxury ingredient for Chinese cuisine in recent years. Perhaps there are many people who visit Japan to enjoy delicacies like them.
Today, I will introduce products that use “sea cucumbers,” which are treasures of the sea produced in vaunted Nanao Bay in Ishikawa Prefecture.
Konowata, One of Japan’s Top 3 Delicacies
【Konowata, 25g in a Bamboo Tube: ¥1,188 (Before Tax)】
Konowata refers to the salted intestines of a sea cucumber.
The intestines of sea cucumbers caught in Noto are carefully extracted using traditional methods and salted inside young bamboo without adding any preservatives.
This is a hand-made delicacy that is made by salting and maturing the entire intestines, which are thin and long and can only be extracted in small amounts from each sea cucumber.
When you open the bamboo tube, which is full of many long intestines that have been carefully processed one by one, the smell of the ocean wafts. It is very extravagant, isn’t it?
They are matured just right inside the bamboo tube.
It is consumed together with sake.
As soon as you put it inside your mouth, you will feel the smell of the ocean and its distinctive sticky texture. The more you chew it, the more the deliciousness spreads inside your mouth. This luxury delicacy, which I hardly get to eat even as a Japanese person, pairs very well with sake.
Although this is a delicacy for which many people have a resistance to its appearance and distinctive smell, it would be a shame not to try this taste that is only available in Japan!
Cosplayers Take Note! Use the Bamboo Tube to Become That Famous Character…
The bamboo tube that remains after eating konowata can be enjoyed as a prop for cosplaying a character from a certain popular anime. You may be approached by anime fans if you hold the bamboo tube in your mouth.
Sea Cucumber Facial Soap with 100% Natural Ingredients
【Namako Bijin: Natural Beige, 80g: ¥2,000 (After Tax)】
This facial soap was created based on the fact that artisans who handle sea cucumbers have beautiful, moist hands. The natural moisturizing ingredients contained in sea cucumber extract prevent dryness, and the diatomite from Noto absorbs debris.
Perhaps due to the stickiness of sea cucumbers, the foam is viscous and dense. There is no dryness after washing with it, and the skin is moisturized youthfully. My skin had a bright tone afterward as if my pores had been completely cleaned out.
Given that it has 100% natural ingredients, I can understand why there are many repeat buyers.
They Can All Be Purchased at Namakoya!
What do you think? All of the products that I introduced today can be purchased at Namakoya. As its name suggests, Namakoya mainly carries sea cucumbers, which are known as namako in Japanese. You can find a variety of products made using sea cucumbers from Noto, with the “kinko (dried sea cucumber)” being their most popular product.
Namakoya Main Store
1-22 Ishizakimachi Kashima, Nanao, Ishikawa 926-0178
Phone: 0120-33-7058
Business Hours: 8:00 – 18:00 / Closed on Thursdays