What does the word "Sushi" mean?
Q: What does the word "Sushi" mean?
A: The word "Sushi" comes from the Japanese words "Su" (酢) meaning vinegar, and "Meshi" (飯), meaning rice.
Q: How is Sushi made?
A: Sushi is made with specially prepared rice, called sumeshi (酢飯). The rice is mixed with vinegar, salt, and sugar. It can also contain raw or cooked seafood as well as non-fish foods such as vegetables.
Q: What are some different types of sushi?
A: Some common types of sushi include nigirizushi (握り寿司), which consists of fish meat placed on top of a small portion of sumeshi; makizushi (巻き寿司), which consists of sumeshi rolled around fish and/or vegetables; and temaki (手巻き) or hand roll, which comes in a cone-shape created by nori wrapped around the ingredients inside.
Q: How do you eat sushi?
A: Sushi is traditionally eaten by hand but it can also be eaten using chopsticks. Soy sauce and wasabi are commonly eaten with sushi while gari (sweet pickled ginger) can often be found alongside a plate of sushi to act as a palate cleanser.
Q: Is there an alternative way to serve sushi other than plates?
A: In Japan, sushi is sometimes sold in "conveyor-belt shops" called kaiten zushi (回転寿司). Plates of sushi are put on a moving belt that passes by the customers where they freely take what they want as it passes. The color of the plate shows the price of the sushi. This way of serving sushi is becoming more popular in other countries too.
Q: Does Gari have to be eaten with chopsticks?
A: Yes, Gari must be eaten with chopsticks.
