Try maple leaf tempura in Minoo, Osaka, Japan

News24xx.com - Tempura is a popular fried Japanese dish. It is usually eaten with a sauce called tentsuyu added with grated radish or ginger and put on top of rice, udon or soba.

Tempura is usually made from vegetables or seafood that are battered and deep-fried. But do you know there is one unique tempura that is made from maple leaves?
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Maple leaves, or what is called momiji in Japan, is a popular ingredient in Minoo City, Osaka Prefecture. As cited from atlasobscura.com, the people of Minoo often take young maple leaves to be marinated for a year. The leaves will later be fried for 20 minutes.

How does it taste like after being marinated for a year? It turns out that it does not taste very different. Sellers usually dip the leaf in sweet flour that is drier and crunchier compared to the one used for seafood tempura. They also add sesame seeds sometimes.
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The people first sold maple leaf tempura in 1910, when a train station was opened near the most popular waterfall in Minoo. Tourists that come to Osaka can find maple leaf tempura to be eaten or brought home. Maple leaf tempura becomes the symbol of Minoo city and it is hard to find in other areas in Japan. That is why, if you visit Minoo, you have to try this snack.

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