The One-Straw Revolution - Multiworld India

When the bamboo sends up its young shoots, grey rock cod, seabream, and striped pig fish are at their most delicious. The iris blossomseason is celebrated with the slender ribbon fish and mackerel sashimi.Green peas, snow peas, lima beans, and fava beans are delicious eatenright from the pod or boiled with whole grains such as brown rice, wheat,or barley.Toward the end of the rainy season, [in most of Japan the rainyseason lasts from June to mid-July] Japanese plums are salted away, andstrawberries and raspberries can be gathered in abundance. At this time itis natural that the body begins to desire the crisp flavor of scallionstogether with watery fruits such as loquats, apricots, and. peaches. Theloquat's fruit is not the only part of the plant which can be eaten. Theseed can be ground into "coffee," and when the leaves are brewed tomake tea it is among the finest of medicines. The mature leaves of peachand persimmon trees produce a tonic for longevity.Beneath the bright midsummer sun, eating melons and licking honeyin the shade of a big tree is a favorite pastime. The many summervegetables such as carrot, spinach, radish, and cucumber become ripeand ready for harvesting. The body also needs vegetable or sesame oil tohold off summer sloth.If you call it mysterious, then mysterious it is that the winter grainharvested in spring goes well with the decreased summertime appetite,and so in summer barley noodles of various sizes and shapes areprepared often. Buckwheat grain is harvested in summer. It is an ancientwild plant and a food which goes well with this season.Early fall is a happy season, with soybeans and small red azukibeans, many fruits, vegetables, and various yellow grains all ripening atthe same time.130