What is Sushi?

Sushi originated over 2000 years ago as a way of preserving fish. At that time, the fish was salted and layered with cooked rice, and allowed to ferment for one to three years. The rice was then discarded and not eaten with the fish.

By 1500 A.D, the process was shortened to only partially ferment the fish, and the vinegar rice was eaten together with the fish.

By 1800 sliced raw fish (sashimi) and vinegar rice (shari) balls were ‘hand formed” together and eaten immediately. This is known today as Nigiri sushi.

It was not until recently – close to the year 2000 – that modern California Rolls were developed. These rolls combine fish (both raw and cooked varieties) together with other ingredients, and are rolled in vinegar rice.

Over time, the word sushi was derived and came to mean the marriage of vinegar rice with other ingredients. It is often used by mistake for the word “sashimi” -- which means “raw fish”.

Sushi (the marriage of vinegar rice and other ingredients) is one of Japan’s most popular foods today and is rapidly increasing in popularity all over the world.