What does natto taste like?

Question

I know what it is, but how does it taste? And can one find it for sale in SoCal?

baq2calli - You've tasted your nuts???

Nut Boy: Your dilemma is called "diarrhoea of the mouth" 'cause you didn't like my comment. Well, I didn't like yours, and neither do I like you. A filthy reply like yours was inappropriate and unnecessary, especially coming from a pimple-faced pubescent immature CHILD. Only immature weenies like yourself try to call attention to their bits & pieces so vulgarly.

You are not nearly gifted enough to attempt reading minds. Iron Chef wasn't the place I saw natto.

Answer 1

♡Well, I think you'll probably get a different answer from everyone here because either you totally love nattou or you're going to hate it after first trying it. I just happen to L♡VE it! It has a very strong smell, it's true, but the taste is different. It's hard to describe, but the best way I can describe it is as a "nutty-bean" taste. (In my opinion) My hubby is Japanese and says it's "bland", he adds negi, soy sauce, a raw egg, karashi mustard... My sis hates it and says it tastes like "rotten cheese"! (*^o^*) I think the smell and the taste are definitely different. Once you add, soy sauce, scallions, Japanese mustard or your other favorite ingredients, the taste will change! I like it with loads of scallions or kimchee best, both of these taste different! You can eat it many ways too, on top of rice, nattou sushi, nattou toast... I live in Japan now but I'm originally from So. Cal, and I know for a fact that you can buy it there. When my hubby and I go to our home in So Cal, we buy nattou, yaki soba, tofu... There are many Japanese markets in So Cal. Take a look at some of the places on the links I've listed. Hope this helps!♡ By the way, many of the beautiful ladies here in Japan have told me that eating nattou makes the skin simply lovely!(*^o^*)

Answer 2

usually in the US you'll find natto in the frozen section of an asian supermarket. Surely you'll find it in CA.
When you taste it... it depends on if you mix anything with it or not as to how strong/bland/fermented of a taste you'll get... but the essential taste you'll get a subtle taste of bitterness along with the fermented cheesy-like taste, bit in my opinion it's very light on the tongue when it's not mixed with other things. At the same time, other things mixed with it sometimes masks the taste a bit, or bring out certain tastes. The smell is very pungent though, which also affects the taste. I ca't enjoy eating it without a fair bit of soy sauce and preferably spicy japanese mustard at minimum. It's indeed best in my opinion when mixed with green onion, kimchi, or even chopped okra..... or wrapped inside an omelet (with rice and ketchup above if desired) really brings out the cheesy/nutty taste.
natto on toast with cheese and any other toppings (green onion, okra, mushrooms, kimchi?) is also quite good.

I can't live without natto. It's also supposed to be very good for you. The japanese talk about its health benefits all the time. Just last week I heard that it"s supposed to be good for the development in the baby's brain when a woman is pregnant.
Sure hope you find it there, because most likely I'll be back there someday when I move back wanting to find it myself.

good luck! ;-)

Answer 3

It smells exactlylike what they are--soybeans gone bad. Texture is akin to okra innards. Tastes like chicken; seriously, it tastes like unsalted, nutty edamame.

Answer 4

(~~)

The first thing noticed by the uninitiated after opening a pack of natto is the very strong smell, akin to strong cheese. Stirring the natto produces lots of spiderweb-like strings. The natto itself has a somewhat nutty, savory flavor that belies its odor. Foreigners in Japan trying natto for the first time generally tend to either love it or hate it.

Answer 5

It tastes like 'deez' -- deez nuts

... and to answer 'beautifuls' comment -- no, but i'm sure you can give the audience here a play-by-play account of how you did a lousy job at the only job you're talented enough to get (wink, wink)

and quit watching 'Iron Chef'. i'm sure that's what sparked your sudden interest in natto.