Paia Eats: Iwamoto Natto Factory Natto

The very first stop I made on my recent trip to Maui was a walk through Ah Fook’s Supermarket in Kahului. After seeing the unique products they carried, it was also the last stop I made on my way back to the airport heading home to Honolulu. One of those unique products I brought back with me was this here Natto, made by Iwamoto Natto Factory in Paia, the same folks who make the undried saimin for Sam Sato’s.

Come to find out, the original Iwamoto family who founded the company were bought out in 1965 by the Yamashita family, with Robert and Patsy Yamashita, along with their son Daryl now operating the business. In fact, the noodle making equipment they still use to this day were given to them from Sam Sato himself way back when. This, according to Patsy, who I had a very nice conversation with over the phone a few days ago.

So here we have Iwamoto Natto Factory’s Natto, a Japanese delicacy that many outside of the culture may find repulsive,  yet I think it’s absolutely oishii!…

Unlike the usual natto packaging in the form of a lidded square styrofoam container with a small packet of karashi mustard and soy sauce or other sauce, Iwamoto’s Natto is packaged in this here  plastic container with nothing else included… not even instructions how to eat it. “Ouch” for those not familiar with eating Natto!

The proper way to serve Natto is to stir it vigorously with chopsticks to froth-up the gooey fermented slime that carries the soy beans. The best way to do this is by transfering it into a larger, sturdy bowl that won’t introduce any plastic or styrofoam matter into the Natto. Then you just take your chopsticks to it and stir away briskly until it froths up, which takes less than a minute…

After it’s frothed-up, this is the point where you can add more punch to the party, as Natto by itself is rather bland, save for its robust coffee bean-like element. A small drizzle of shoyu and chopped green onion (negi) works for me…

Then stir again to combine…

A very important key accompanyment that many (on YouTube) fail to understand is that the best way to enjoy Natto is by eating it atop a bowl of hot, steamed white rice…

Enhanced even further by the accompanyment of tsukemeno – in this case Takuan (pickled daikon) and Beni Shoga (pickled ginger).

Here you see Iwamoto’s Natto in all its ooey-gooey glory. Hai, itadakimasu!…

Notice the “hana buttah” like way the fermented “slime” pulls apart. This is good stuff my friends.

Just like this is winnahz, but even better when you mix the beni shoga and takuan in with it!…

Mmmmm.. oishikatta! As mentioned before, Natto is reminiscent of coffee beans that have a more legume-like quality to it. Think of taking boiled peanuts and soaking it in coffee, and it’s kinda what this tastes like. The clincher is that ooey-gooey slime they’re encapsulated in. If you can get over the “snot-like” texture it may remind you of, you’ll be fine. That’s why it’s important to eat it over a bowl of hot steamed rice. That helps to melt that slime over the rice, turning it more into a sauce than anything else. Some folks try to assimilate Natto with spoiled cheese, but I find that a much maligned description of it. In contrary, I find a really pungeant bleu cheese much more repulsive than Natto. Natto is really delicious if you eat it thinking “outside the box”. If you can do that, you’ll really enjoy it!

What? Hama Natto
Who makes it? Iwamoto Natto Factory in Paia, Maui
Where did you buy and how much? Ah Fook’s Supermarket in Kahului, Maui, $2.19 per 4 oz. container
Big shacka to: Robust and balanced bean flavor. Froths-up quickly when stirred. Carrier has nice “pull”. Very healthy.
No shaka to: The undeserving bad reputation Natto gets.
The Tasty Island SPAM Musubi rating: 4

Coming next, we’ll make Sam Sato’s Dry Noodles (a.k.a. Dry Mein) at home using Iwamoto’s Undried Saimin from Ah Fook’s!…

Iwamoto Natto Factory Undried Saimin – 1-1/2 pound package, $4.59 from Ah Fook’s Supermarket in  Kahului, Maui

Here’s some fun YouTube clips of folks demonstrating their Natto eating skills…