I'm sick, so the only candy I can and should eat is kurozatō nodo-ame, black sugar throat candy. When I first heard the term "throat candy," I thought it was all a big racket, because everyone knows their mom always said, "Sweet things are bad for you when you're sick!" (Please read with with whatever voice you use to imitate your mother. I know you have one.) It turns out that rule doesn't apply when you're talking about black sugar from Okinawa, sticky, chunky, unrefined stuff that Japanese people sometimes like to eat whole. Unlike brown sugar sold in the U.S., which is refined white sugar mixed with molasses, Okinawan black sugar has nutrients not found in more processed sugars, most notably potassium. It also has a throat-soothing quality, which makes it a popular addition to nodo-ame. It also may or may not extend your life -- black sugar is one of the foods credited for the extremely long lives of the Okinawan people.
I've tried a few black sugar candies, but none has ever lived up to this one, the first brand I ever bought. That's because lurking beneath the sweet, smooth exterior is a molten core of pure, raw black sugar, bitter, molasses-y stuff with the dark sweetness of the best gingerbread. Crunching through the final layer of the outer candy and into the center is the best part, the two textures blending under your teeth into something chewy yet crisp, like a very dark toffee.
They're pretty addictive, especially when your throat is tickly. I've also tried dropping them into hot lemon tea, the way I see my coworkers sometimes drop chunks of actual kurozatō into their coffee. It's good. But the best part is knowing I will undoubtedly live to be at least 100 years old with all the black sugar I'm eating.
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Comments (13)
mmmmm, that DOES sound yummy and molasses has never been one of my favorite "sweets" :) so nodo means throat. ame means candy? i'm lost on that one. it's been ages since i was in japanese class!
Posted by gleek | October 14, 2006 12:10 AM
sounds delish!
Posted by jessica | October 14, 2006 1:09 AM
Yum. I hope you feel better soon.
Posted by Mariko | October 14, 2006 2:47 AM
I hope you feel better!
Wow! You are teasing me so much with these! They look sooooo good! I just love molasses. I want to try these so badly!
Posted by Sera | October 14, 2006 3:10 AM
that sounds so yummy! I love things made from real brown sugar. There are a lot in south America, but sadly you can't find them here :P
Posted by tatjana | October 14, 2006 4:35 AM
Sounds great! Good for the throat ANd it cheers you up...I'm sure you'll be better in no time. :)
Posted by Barbara | October 14, 2006 8:25 AM
Intresting. I'm always weirdly exited to try black candy that isn't liquorice. (Or candy with black packaging. Black packaging always means liquorice.) I'm the one who eats all the black wine gums and leaves the rest... :)
I hope you feel better soon. Autumn colds are a pain.
Posted by Hanna | October 14, 2006 5:31 PM
Hmmm...this candy sort of reminds me of fisherman's friends cough drops, about the only cough drop I think that really works, although I hate the licoricy taste.
Hope you feel better soon!
Posted by sara | October 15, 2006 12:03 AM
Wow...initially I thought you were being your brave self trying exotic yet potentially gross sweets on our behalf. How wonderful you found one that was yummy and possibly life extending! Again, thank you again for your Japanese Candy Friday entries - I so look forward to them. I never expected I would ever be compiling a list of "must-try candies" in case I ever found myself in Japan!
Posted by mary b | October 15, 2006 3:39 AM
OMG i want!~ this just looks too good. It reminds me of a japanese franchise, pepper lunch in my country which serves black sugar ice cream. Damn good.
Posted by peixun | October 15, 2006 9:21 PM
I love natural remedies...where can I pick up a bag of that?
Kaki
P.S. Doll class was awesome! Can't wait to make the Okinawa doll. Hope to see you at Chisako's again soon.
Posted by Kaki | October 15, 2006 11:03 PM
hello my dear sister. i hope you feel better soon! i'm currently recovering from a cold and drinking ginger lemon tea at the moment. that candy sounds much better than the ricola you can get here. oh! how do you like best nonrequired reading book? any good?
Posted by sonya | October 16, 2006 6:04 AM
Mmmmmm! Thank you for including these in my package! They were a hit with my husband, too. His comment: "It's like a Japanese Werther's Original!" Hmmmm. It does have that caramelized note. They are a nice alternative to honey-lemon Halls (which I actually get a craving for every winter, sore throat or not).
Posted by chocovore | October 20, 2006 12:40 AM