A bento field is a Japanese-style lunchbox meal that features rice or noodles, egg or meat, greens and different aspect dishes. Each portion of the meal is neatly positioned in sections, with out one portion touching the opposite. It is balanced with required portions of carbs (rice or noodles), protein (meat, eggs, tofu or seafood) and nutritional vitamins (fruit or veg). It additionally helps individuals with portion management and conscious consuming.
Kamakura interval
The origin of bento meals will be traced again to the Kamakura interval within the twelfth century. Meals of dried rice referred to as hoshi-ii (“dried rice”) had been developed to hold to work. It could possibly be eaten as is, or was cooked in water, and was saved in a small bag. In the sixteenth century, wood containers got here into use to retailer the meal. These meals could be eaten throughout tea events or throughout hanami. (a customized of admiring the cherry blossoms)
Edo interval
Bento tradition turned extra refined and extra widespread throughout this era. Travellers and sightseers would carry a koshibentō (“waist bento”, much like a fanny pack immediately. The meal consisted of onigiri, which had been Japanese rice balls full of umeboshi (pickled Chinese plum), salmon, katsuobushi (smoked and fermented bonito fish) or kombu (edible kelp) and wrapped in nori (seaweed). Makunouchi bento (“between-act bento”) additionally emerged throughout this time. These meals had been offered to theatre-goers throughout intermissions of Noh and Kabuki (genres of Japanese theatres) performs. Cookbooks for bento meals additionally got here out throughout this time.
Meiji period
The Meiji period noticed the rise of ekibento. (“train station bentos”) . This custom was believed to have began on the Utsunomiya Station within the Kantō area, and the meals consisted of two onigiri and a serving of pickled radish wrapped in bamboo leaves. During this time, faculties didn’t present meals, so college students and academics carried bentos.
Kyaraben Polar Bear Bento Box
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PICASA 2.7
Taijo period and the decline
This is the place the aluminium bento field emerged, and was seen as a logo of luxurious, as a result of its easy-clean characteristic and its metallic shine. As a lot of a blessing it was, it got here with a curse. Disparities of wealth had been created after an export growth throughout World War I and there was eventual crop failure in some locations just like the Tōhoku area. By the time World War II was over, there was a major decline in bento meals and individuals switched to uniform meals, which had been offered to college students and academics by faculties.
Bento containers Kyaraben
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Freepik
Revival
The bento meal regained its reputation within the 80s, rising as a comfort retailer frozen meal. Wood and metallic containers had been changed with polystyrene containers. Handmade bento meals have additionally made a comeback. Children and workplace goers nonetheless carry handmade bento containers made by their moms or wives. They are additionally generally used as packed lunches for street journeys. Homemade bentos are wrapped in furoshiki material, which doubles as a carry bag and a tablecloth. Homemade bento containers take a variety of time and effort to organize, so Japanese housewives normally put together a number of the elements the evening earlier than.
Although the custom of bento meals is native to Japan, the custom of boxed meals has unfold to different international locations, particularly inside Asia. Countries like China, Singapore, India and Korea are carrying the custom of boxed meals.
japanese boxed lunch
| Photo Credit:
bonchan
China
China calls its meals héfàn or biàndāng. There are numerous kinds primarily based on the area. Hong Kong has the distinctive “two meals with rice”. The meals got here in containers referred to as shíhé. The design of the shíhé would vary from easy to multi-tiered.
japanese boxed lunch
| Photo Credit:
bonchan
Taiwan
Taiwan was launched to the bento meal through the first half of the twentieth century through the Japanese colonial interval and was referred to as piān-tong. A contemporary Taiwanese bento field comprises some type of obligatory protein, be it a fried rooster leg-piece, grilled mackerel or marinated pork chop. The Taiwan Railway Administration supplies bento meals in practice vehicles at main railway stations, referred to as Taiwan Railway Bento.
Korea
Packed lunches are referred to as dosirak. They are much like the Japanese and Chinese fashion, besides they’re mild on the meat and greens, and include kimchi.
Handmade bento field
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WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Think about it
Look at this image intently. This is a Hinomaru bento field which consists of nothing however plain rice and umeboshi, a Japanese pickle. Does this bento field remind you of something associated to Japan? Answer us within the feedback.
India
India, as we all know, has the favored system of tiffin meals for each faculty youngsters and working people. The various cultures and tastes in every family add to the number of tiffin meals.
Mumbai has had a long-standing dabbawala (actually “tiffin carriers”) service since 1890, the place the dabbawalas have been delivering and returning selfmade meals in lunch containers through bicycle or practice to working individuals.
In the late 1800s, there have been a variety of migrant staff who got here to Bombay. They left for work within the morning and went house hungry for lunch. Having come from completely different communities, they solely needed home-made meals. So, in 1890, Mahadeo Havaji Bachche began a lunch supply service with a couple of hundred males. The service was an enormous success and turned commercialised in 1968 with the identify, Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association.
A tiffin meal.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Singapore
Singaporean bento meals embrace roasted pork, soy eggs and fried rice. This custom began within the early twentieth century and intensified throughout Japanese occupation.
In 2021, the Singapore Food Tech Event showcased a bento field meal for a sustainable future. The meal contained plant-based meat, vegan cashew cheese and rice with a low glycemic index. (a measure of how shortly a sure meals merchandise raises blood sugar ranges)
Bento meals are intently tied with Japanese values of magnificence, steadiness and simplicity. Each bento meal follows the rule of 5. They cowl the 5 completely different tastes: candy, bitter, salty, spicy and savoury. They additionally captivate the 5 completely different senses of the human physique: sight, odor, style, really feel and sound (just like the crunch of greens or the fried shrimp). Bento containers are made visually interesting by making them seem like anime or cartoon characters. These are popularly seen in Kyaraben bento meals.
Bento containers Kyaraben
| Photo Credit:
Freepik
The bento field is greater than only a meal, it’s a steadiness of vitamin, artistry and tradition that’s nonetheless well-liked to this present day.
