In my opinion, natto (fermented soybean) is for people with very particular tastes. It’s like stinky tofu or gorgonzola cheese: you either like it or you don’t. It’s such a specifically “niche” food, thanks in most part to its texture. I had always eyed natto with suspicion, knowing that the slimy, sticky texture was not for everyone. But on our recent trip to Mitsuwa, it just so happened that the grocery store was having a sale on it, so I decided, hey, why not? Besides, natto is actually great for your digestive system, and contains high amounts of vitamin K2 and nattokinase.

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Each package came with three styrofoam boxes of natto, and when you popped it open a layer of wax paper was plastered onto them (presumably to stop them from sticking to the lid and making a mess when it was opened, which I appreciated). There were also two packets of flavoring: soy sauce and karashi mustard both of which are standard natto. I also took the opportunity to see for myself just how sticky the beans were, and if the slimy strings that stretched between the beans in my chopsticks and the rest in the box were anything to go by, natto lived up to its reputation as a food with a very unique texture. I wasn’t entirely put off by the texture, though, it was somewhat fascinating. I had also heard that the smell was off-putting to many, but all I caught was a very faint whiff of an ammonia-like smell.

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My opinion on natto was just about what I had expected: the taste was quite good, but I was on the fence about the consistency. The soybeans themselves had bite and were slightly bitter, but it was balanced out by the sharp savoriness of the soy sauce and mustard. Now, for the main attraction: the slime.  The sticky, thick consistency reminded me of okra, which I’m not adverse to (boiled okra with soy sauce is actually very good!). Again, it was what I’d expected, and while I wasn’t crazy about it, I’m still making up my mind. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t what I was in the mood for at the moment.

I’d still recommend giving it a try; while its consistency might prevent some from giving it a chance, I think it’s really not as bad as a lot of people have made it out to be!

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