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Eel-eating day

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But aren't eels endangered?

Better eat them before someone else, then!

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Yes - Japanese Eels are on the red endangered list so production is extremely limited.

The glass eels (fry) are caught - many illegally - and then farmed.

China is the biggest farmer supplying by far the most of the eels consumed here.

Japan farmed eels attract the top prices and mainly go to restaurants.

In supermarkets the Japanese farmed eels are generally double+ the price.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Japan needs a new Tuesday meal.

"The Japanese Ministry of the Environment has officially added Japanese eel to the “endangered”"

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unagi

8 ( +8 / -0 )

When ever I read a sea food name in English like eel of squid it sounds like something thats unappetizing. When I hear うなぎ or イカ I immediately think 美味しそう sounds delicious. Maybe thats just me.

could equally be said of English food names pronounced in Japanese, we all know how well Japan does at butchering foreign names. But hey if you sell it with Japanese name you can charge twice as much for it so go ahead

3 ( +3 / -0 )

But if these eels are from China, I will put them on my Ban-Eating-List. (Beside Bats)

All of the lower priced eels are from China, and even they aren't cheap.

Japan seems determined to eat every last eel there is......conservation is just not part of most Japanese people vocabulary sadly!

Same with bluefin tuna.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

water snakes... yum

2 ( +5 / -3 )

I know they are endangered and there are lots of dodgy labelling and farming practices, but done properly unagi is absolutely delicious.

I would much rather have hitsumabushi than some course dinner that costs three times or more. Two wrongs don't make a right, but the course dinner will likely also involve all kinds of dodgy farming practices, food miles, food waste, and also be completely unsustainable.

Precooked unagi from the supermarket reheated in a microwave should not be confused with what you get in a proper restaurant. The supermarket stuff is a complete waste of a fine ingredient and presumably only bought by dumb people who buy into the "unagi makes you strong in summer" hype.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Japan seems determined to eat every last eel there is......conservation is just not part of most Japanese people vocabulary sadly!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Most Japanese like to eat unagi in summer as well as curry all year around.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

These are imported from China and/or Russia.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

But if these eels are from China, I will put them on my Ban-Eating-List. (Beside Bats)

A bit childish, sport.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Love Unagi! In Germany, we smoke them, eating cold or hot, just tastes so good.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Love Unagi! In Germany, we smoke them, eating cold or hot, just tastes so good.

In next door Holland we do too. Lovely with crispy bread. But I haven't been there for a while.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I did try it with crisp bread pretty tasty, it’s really cheap compared to Japan. It’s so expensive over here when you order it, you these small morsels not really enough, but better than nothing I guess.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Better without that sickly sweet sauce they coat it with.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Wild or Japanese farm raised eels are available at higher end unagi-ya. Be prepared to pay, though. I don't mind splurging once or twice a year. Chinese food products of any kind are a no-go for me and, sadly most of the supermarket unagi are products of China. Domestic dojo fish, which are plentiful in season, are similar in texture to unagi and cooked the same way. Nice alternative.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I buy it online under the government tax deduction gift scheme, yes its expensive but at least its tax deductible

0 ( +0 / -0 )

When ever I read a sea food name in English like eel of squid it sounds like something thats unappetizing. When I hear うなぎ or イカ I immediately think 美味しそう sounds delicious. Maybe thats just me.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

I love eels cooked in kabayaki style and unadon. Eels taste really good is one of my favorite foods. The best thing about eel meat is how absorbent it is with sauces and seasoning. Aside from that eel meat has a lot of nutritional value. High in phosphorus, balancing the bodies PH level, aiding in digestion. It also helps in metabolism and nutrient absorption. It even detoxifies the body thru urination and excretion. So happy eel day to everyone !

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

@Zichi

Are you sure?

Please don't damage my best image of japanese eel.

I love to eat Eel.

But if these eels are from China, I will put them on my Ban-Eating-List. (Beside Bats)

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

No water snakes for me but you can make my steak medium- well, por favor.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

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