Moveable Feast
By Madilyn Amico
Madilyn is a new staff writer with O . A . T . and she has most recently traveled to Antigua , Guatemala where she volunteered in an impoverished school ’ s cafeteria .
Samurai Summer Salad
Pairing cold soba with Japan ’ s oldest superfood
Right : While commonly referred to as “ plums ,” the ume fruit is actually more closely related to an apricot , and herbal red dye is sometimes added for color .
Fresh ume plums are naturally yellow .
Rudy Maxa ’ s World : Taste of Japan , Tokyo
Get acquainted with the flavors and textures of Japanese cuisine with travel host Rudy Maxa .
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There ’ s one thing you should keep in mind when visiting Japan in the summertime : beating the heat ! That ’ s one of the reasons Japan ’ s summers are alive with traditional festivals , fireworks , and cooling summer foods to keep the mind , body , and spirit refreshed . Whether you ’ re munching on some kakigori ( Japanese shaved ice ), a juicy square watermelon , cold soba noodles , or some umeboshi ( pickled plums )— you ’ re bound to cool down .
The Samurai ’ s Superfood
Japanese plums ( known as ume ) are a beloved component in the Japanese diet and are best harvested from June and early July . The fresh fruit is typically transformed into umeboshi — a supremely salty and sour delicacy that takes 34 days to pickle .
People in Japan have been eating umeboshi for centuries . It has even been coined the samurai ’ s superfood , as it was once believed to combat battle fatigue . But what makes this fruit so special and worth the effort ? The citric acid that ’ s packed in these plums provides an array of healing benefits , like restoring energy , balancing digestion , and preventing heat stroke — that ’ s what makes them a summer staple .
Umeboshi can be enjoyed on its own , served with cheeses and truffles , or paired with rice balls , salads , and meats .
The Art of Soba Noodles
Not only is umeboshi a centuries-old delicacy , but so is the tradition of soba-making , dating all the way back to the eighth century . Soba is the Japanese word for buckwheat as it is a traditional noodle made from buckwheat flour . Buckwheat crops from the southern islands of Shikoku have been the region ’ s primary source for making this special noodle , which is now a present-day street food in places like Tokyo . Soba is served in many ways , including in hot soups and chilled with a dipping sauce or dressing .
32 DISPATCHES • AUGUST 2022