2009/10/02
Vital food – Okinawa
Vital foods from Okinawa, a country of long life
Okinawa’s traditional fruit Sikuwasa, promoted by JA Okinawa
Japan is the world’s number one nation for life long . Okinawa is one of the top life long regions in Japan.
In Okinawa, there is a tart citrus fruit called Sikuwasa. In the Okinawa dialect, “Si” means sour and “kuwasa” means to eat. Along time ago, mothers gave the juice from Sikuwasas that were grown in their gardens to children who played under the dazzling sunshine. Its rich in Vitamin C and citric acid; furthermore research revealed that its pericarp contains Nobiletin, an antioxidant component. It is a familiar fruit among Okinawa people from children to adults, consumed in meals, juice, and with liquor. In addition, it is said from the old times that drinking its pericarp as a decoction is good for the treatment of diabetes. It can be said that the secret to long life is hidden in the Sikuwasa fruit.
JA Okinawa will start sales of Sikawasas that are currently not distributed in all regions of Japan. Fully ripened Sikuwasa has a mild sourness with an orange-like colour. It can be eaten straight.
