Natto: Fermented Soybeans with Mustard

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Browsing through the deeper reaches of my chest freezer today, I came across a long-forgotten styrofoam container. Contained in that container was some Natto, a fermented soybean product from Japan. There are competing theories about the origin of natto, but one I favour theorises that it came about during a time of war in the 11th century. One day a powerful samurai was encamped with his men, when they were attacked while boiling soybeans for their horses. They hurriedly packed up the beans, and did not open the straw sacks until a few days later, by which time the beans had fermented, turning into natto. Not being wasteful, the soldiers ate it anyway, and liked the taste, so they offered some to their lord, who also liked it. And the rest is history (or legend!) To some people, it looks really gross, and I guess natto is a bit like Marmite - you either love it or you hate it! But the resemblance doesn't end there: both natto and Marmite are intensely-flavoured, savoury products, typifying the concept of umami. When picking up some natto on the spoon, long elastic threads are formed. Even when placed in the mouth, those threads stretch between your lips as you chew! In case you didn't know it, I adore fermented foods What's the strangest thing you like to eat?