Cannabaceae

Tokoroten
TypeWagashi
Place of originJapan
Main ingredientsseaweed (tengusa, ogonori)

Tokoroten (心太, ところてん) is a dish in Japanese cuisine made from agarophytes. Tokoroten has been eaten by the Japanese for over a thousand years.[1] Tokoroten is thought to have been introduced to Japan from China during the Nara period.[2] Tokoroten was traditionally made by boiling tengusa (Gelidium amansii) and then allowing the mixture to congeal into a jelly.[1]

Tokoroten was a popular snack during the summertime in Edo (Tokyo) during the Edo period.[2] It was originally made to be eaten immediately and was commonly sold around factories.[3] In the 17th century, it was discovered that freezing tokoroten would result in a stable and dry product known as kanten (agar).[3][1] While tokoroten can be made from kanten based on seaweeds such as tengusa (Gelidiaceae) and ogonori (Gracilaria), today commercially produced kanten is mostly made from ogonori.[2]

Pressed through an extruding device, the jelly is shaped into noodles. Unlike gelatin desserts, tokoroten has a firmer texture.

Tokoroten was and can be eaten hot (in solution) or cold (as a gel).[3] Flavorings and garnishes can vary from region to region. Today, it is the most common to eat tokoroten with a mixture of vinegar and soy sauce,[4] and sometimes nori,[5] hot pepper, or sesame. In Kansai region, tokoroten is eaten as a dessert with kuromitsu.[6]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Mouritsen 2013, p. 93.
  2. ^ a b c Shimamura 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Armisen & Galatas 1987.
  4. ^ Ito & Hori 1989.
  5. ^ Stephen 1995.
  6. ^ "ところてん、関西ではなぜ黒蜜?" [Why is tokoroten eaten with kuromitsu in Kansai?] (in Japanese). The Nikkei. 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2017-04-26.

References[edit]

  • Media related to Tokoroten at Wikimedia Commons

One thought on “Cannabaceae

  1. Well, that’s interesting to know that Psilotum nudum are known as whisk ferns. Psilotum nudum is the commoner species of the two. While the P. flaccidum is a rare species and is found in the tropical islands. Both the species are usually epiphytic in habit and grow upon tree ferns. These species may also be terrestrial and grow in humus or in the crevices of the rocks.
    View the detailed Guide of Psilotum nudum: Detailed Study Of Psilotum Nudum (Whisk Fern), Classification, Anatomy, Reproduction

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