Friday, 8 January 2016

Nanakusagayu(七草粥) - Rice porridge with 7 herbs

There is a custom to eat Nanakusagayu on 7th  January in Japan.
Nanakusagayu is a rice porridge with 7 spring herbs, i.e. seri, nazuna, gyou, hakobera, hotokenoza, suzuna, suzushiro. It is said the tradition to eat nanakusagayu started during Heian period (around the 8th century) with a wish of good health. It is also eaten to rest stomach after a big meal during the New Year’s celebration.
 

 
 
Nowadays, there is a packet of 7 herbs for nanakusagayu that is easily purchased at any supermarket in Japan. Some supermarkets, e.g. Isetan or Meidiya, in Singapore also sell it, but I couldn’t get it this year because it was all sold out. It is surprising because eating nanakusagayu is also a traditional event which is lesser and lesser popular in a present day in Japan. Are Japanese staying overseas more traditional than ones in Japan???
Wishing you good health!!!

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