As the name suggests, the “Ibaraki Sweet Potato Rice Bento” is a bento featuring sweet potato rice made with sweet potatoes and rice from Ibaraki Prefecture. It’s an “Ibaraki All-Star Bento” in which all the side dishes—including the simmered flower-shaped carrots, as well as the lotus root, burdock root, chestnuts, and chicken—are sourced from Ibaraki Prefecture.
Sweet potato rice has a mild flavor where the subtle soy sauce taste and the sweetness of the sweet potatoes blend perfectly. While results may vary, I was a little pleased to find some crispy rice at the bottom of the pot this time. Incidentally, Ibaraki Prefecture boasts a sweet potato production volume that rivals that of Satsuma Province—Kagoshima Prefecture. It’s also famous for dried sweet potatoes and other products.
Ibaraki Prefecture accounts for nearly half of Japan’s total lotus root production; with its slightly rich flavor, it pairs perfectly with sweet potato rice. The shiitake mushrooms are meaty, and the burdock root is thick, allowing you to enjoy their completely different textures. The chestnuts are from Kasama in Ibaraki Prefecture. Incidentally, Ibaraki Prefecture also holds the undisputed top spot in chestnut production. Although they are candied, they aren’t sticky; their appeal lies in a texture similar to boiled chestnuts and a flavor that isn’t overly sweet.
The teriyaki chicken has a satisfyingly firm texture, and I’m told it’s also made with Tsukuba chicken from Ibaraki Prefecture. This single ekiben truly packs the flavors of Ibaraki into one bite.
© Source travel watch