Taiyo No Tamago
atlasobscura.com
Taiyo No Tamago
1–10 of 18 posts
Re: Taiyo No Tamago
#2But even more important than delicious flavors and meticulous care is Japan’s gift-giving culture. It is a sign of respect to give gifts for business dealings, for special occasions and social events, or when returning home after traveling (known as omiyage). High-quality, expensive fruits are a valued symbol of respect within this practice.
Ah, if it was only the thought that counted... :)
Honestly though, I wonder if there's a cottage industry around expensive gifts in Japan, if this is the case. Is it easy to market a new fruit growing technique to produce the hot new omiyage and sell it at an insane mark up? Because that seems to be what matters more than utility or thoughtfulness.
Re: Taiyo No Tamago
#3But even more important than delicious flavors and meticulous care is Japan’s gift-giving culture. It is a sign of respect to give gifts for business dealings, for special occasions and social events, or when returning home after traveling (known as omiyage). High-quality, expensive fruits are a valued symbol of respect within this practice. Ah, if it was only the thought that counted... :) Honestly though, I wonder…
There are all kinds of artificially expensive fruit in japan (square watermelons, for example) but also lots of "exemplars" of the season are expensive. But also they farm expensive mostly decorative fruit: https://stickymangorice.com/2020/05/29/japan-expensive-fruit...
It's a good thing, these aren't considered pseudo-bribery or "large gifts" in Japan.
Re: Taiyo No Tamago
#4But even more important than delicious flavors and meticulous care is Japan’s gift-giving culture. It is a sign of respect to give gifts for business dealings, for special occasions and social events, or when returning home after traveling (known as omiyage). High-quality, expensive fruits are a valued symbol of respect within this practice. Ah, if it was only the thought that counted... :) Honestly though, I wonder…
There are all kinds of artificially expensive fruit in japan (square watermelons, for example) but also lots of "exemplars" of the season are expensive. But also they farm expensive mostly decorative fruit: https://stickymangorice.com/2020/05/29/japan-expensive-fruit... It's a good thing, these aren't considered pseudo-bribery or "large gifts" in Japan.
Some of the cost is down to the cultivation of the plant and pruning of the less desirable fruit. As far as I'm aware the goal with some fruit is that the nutrients are funnelled to the best fruit. So a single plant produces less fruit but the quality and taste is far superior, in comparison to the west where the goal is high yield at-the sacrifice other attributes.
Re: Taiyo No Tamago
#5Earlier quoted context omitted.
There are all kinds of artificially expensive fruit in japan (square watermelons, for example) but also lots of "exemplars" of the season are expensive. But also they farm expensive mostly decorative fruit: https://stickymangorice.com/2020/05/29/japan-expensive-fruit... It's a good thing, these aren't considered pseudo-bribery or "large gifts" in Japan.
Some of the cost is down to the cultivation of the plant and pruning of the less desirable fruit. As far as I'm aware the goal with some fruit is that the nutrients are funnelled to the best fruit. So a single plant produces less fruit but the quality and taste is far superior, in comparison to the west where the goal is high yield at-the sacrifice other attributes.
Kind of. I think you're way overstating the case. Most fruit in Japan are also produced for quantity and not for some other quality. They also avoid "ugly fruit" but there are some special markets dedicated to "ugly" fuits and veggies.
Re: Taiyo No Tamago
#6Reminded me of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yubari_King .
Re: Taiyo No Tamago
#7Is that $2,000 price a real thing, or just a publicity stunt?
They cite that as happening at a wholesale auction. The photograph depicts mango for 9800 yen, about $100. Still absurd, but more than an order of magnitude less.
It puts me in mind of the guy who breaks records every year by buying a tuna for millions of dollars:
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/01/07/168813383/th...
Re: Taiyo No Tamago
#8But even more important than delicious flavors and meticulous care is Japan’s gift-giving culture. It is a sign of respect to give gifts for business dealings, for special occasions and social events, or when returning home after traveling (known as omiyage). High-quality, expensive fruits are a valued symbol of respect within this practice. Ah, if it was only the thought that counted... :) Honestly though, I wonder…
Kinda reminds me of when aristocrats used to rent fruits like pineapples to display them at parties. Not even to eat, but just as a decorative item and a symbol of wealth.
Re: Taiyo No Tamago
#9Is that $2,000 price a real thing, or just a publicity stunt? They cite that as happening at a wholesale auction. The photograph depicts mango for 9800 yen, about $100. Still absurd, but more than an order of magnitude less. It puts me in mind of the guy who breaks records every year by buying a tuna for millions of dollars: https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/01/07/168813383/th...
My guess is as good as any, but the first fruit of the season can sometimes go for quite high prices.
Re: Taiyo No Tamago
#10Is that $2,000 price a real thing, or just a publicity stunt? They cite that as happening at a wholesale auction. The photograph depicts mango for 9800 yen, about $100. Still absurd, but more than an order of magnitude less. It puts me in mind of the guy who breaks records every year by buying a tuna for millions of dollars: https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/01/07/168813383/th...
The sushi guy and his tuna is totally a publicity stunt.
In this case, I think it helps to consider the mango as art rather than food.
It's a similar thing with Koi Carp.