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Kinonene Co., Ltd. operates a restaurant business called Ryotei Kinonene and a accommodation business called Hotel Kuki in Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture. and Hotel Kuki in Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture.
Kinonene Co., Ltd. operates a restaurant business called Ryotei Kinonene and a accommodation business called Hotel Kuki in Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture. and Hotel Kuki in Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture.
#Ryotei Kinoene in #Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.
Is winter the best time for eels? Why are eels best in mid-winter?
Many people probably eat eel on the summer Doyou Ushi days.
Doyou Ushi days are also in seasons other than summer.
The custom of eating unagi (eel) on summer Ox days was established because it has long been said that eels are good for preventing summer fatigue. In fact, there are different Doyou Ushi days in spring, summer, autumn and winter. The real season for eels is midwinter.
We will now introduce the most delicious time of year for eating eels.
The custom of eating eels on the summer Doyou Ushi days
Nowadays, many people have probably seen eels lined up in supermarkets, department stores and convenience stores every year in mid-July on the day of the Ox.
Doyou Ushi days are not only in summer!
However, the day of the Ox is not only in summer. In fact, there are Doyou Ushi days in each of the seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Spring Ox days: mid to late April.
Summer Ox days: late July to early August.
Autumn Ox Days: Late Oct.
Winter Ox Days: Late Jan.
There are slight deviations in timing depending on the year.
Many people have a strong image of the Doyou no Ushi in summer.
Why, then, did the custom of eating eels on the summer Ox days come about?
The custom of eating eels on Doyou Ushi days has its origins.
There are various theories, the best known of which is that it was invented by a man called Hiraga Gennai.
An acquaintance of Hiraga Gennai was doing business at an eel shop, but business was not going well. He put a signboard in front of the shop saying 'Today is the day of the Ox', and business went well, which led to the custom of eating eels on 'Doyou no Ushi no Hi'. In addition, as eels are rich in vitamins A and B, they are effective in 'preventing summer fatigue', so the custom of eating eels in summer became a good idea.
Farmed and natural eels
There are two main types of eel: farmed eels and natural eels.
Farmed and natural eels differ in the way they grow and when they are in season.
Farmed eels
Farmed eels grow in a well-controlled environment throughout the year. As a result, they are relatively unseasonal. Therefore, they can be eaten at any time of the year.
Winter is the best time to eat natural eels.
Natural eels are fished during the season from May to December. Farmed eels have no season and can be eaten all year round, but the season for natural eels is winter. Eels are most traded in June-August throughout the year.
Some people may assume that the eel season is in summer because the summer months are the most active situation for the eel market.
However, in fact, the real season for eels is not summer but winter. It is said to be in season from October to December. Eels hibernate from around October as the water temperature begins to drop. This is the time of year when eels are at their most delicious, as they are full of fat and are storing up nutrients.
Eels, not chicken, at Christmas!
When asked, "What is the best thing to eat at Christmas?" more than 80% of respondents answer chicken. So much so that it is now customary to eat chicken during the Christmas season.
As we have mentioned, December is the most delicious time of year for eels. How about eels instead of chicken as a reward for your family and yourself at the end of the year?
Conclusion.
In this article, we have introduced the point that winter is the best time to eat eels. In Japan, there is a culture of eating eels, and many people may assume that eels are in season in summer. In fact, however, the eel season is winter. Eels in winter have more fat and are richer in nutrients than in summer.
Nowadays, the catch of natural eels is decreasing year by year and in 2013 they were designated an endangered species. Therefore, I believe that there will come a time in the future when we will no longer be able to eat natural eels.
There are various events coming up, such as Christmas and New Year's.
Why not try eels in season?
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