Kanpyō (かんぴょう or 干瓢), sometimes romanized and pronounced kampyō, are dried shavings of Lagenaria siceraria var. hispida, a variety of calabash gourd. The gourd is known as yugao (夕顔) or fukube (フクベ) in Japanese.[3] Kanpyō is an ingredient in traditional Edo style Japanese cuisine. Cooked and flavored kanpyō is commonly used in futomaki sushi roll.[3]

Kanpyo, (dried gourd strips)
Kanpyō (raw), dried shavings of "Lagenaria siceraria" var. "hispida
Kanpyō (raw), dried shavings of Lagenaria siceraria var. hispida
Nutritional value per 100 g
Energy1,079 kJ (258 kcal)
65.03 g
Dietary fiber9.8 g
0.56 g
Saturated0.045 g
Trans0
Monounsaturated0.103 g
Polyunsaturated0.244 g
8.58 g
VitaminsQuantity
%DV
Vitamin A0 IU
Thiamine (B1)
0%
0 mg
Riboflavin (B2)
3%
0.044 mg
Niacin (B3)
18%
2.9 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)
51%
2.553 mg
Vitamin B6
31%
0.532 mg
Folate (B9)
15%
61 μg
Vitamin B12
0%
0 μg
Vitamin C
0%
0.2 mg
Vitamin D
0%
0 IU
MineralsQuantity
%DV
Calcium
22%
280 mg
Copper
48%
0.433 mg
Iron
28%
5.12 mg
Magnesium
30%
125 mg
Manganese
49%
1.137 mg
Phosphorus
15%
188 mg
Potassium
53%
1582 mg
Selenium
5%
2.6 μg
Sodium
1%
15 mg
Zinc
53%
5.86 mg
Other constituentsQuantity
Water19.97 g
Alcohol (ethanol)0
Caffeine0
Cholesterol0

"USDA Database entry for Kanpyo, (dried gourd strips)".
Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[1] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[2]

Kanpyō was originally grown in the Osaka region.[4] Now it is a specialty product of Tochigi Prefecture,[5] where it is a cottage industry.[3] The region is so tied to the food product that it hosts the "Kanpyō Highway with History and Romance".[6] The yuru-chara for Oyama, Tochigi is Kapyomaru (かぴょ丸), an anthropomorphized calabash.[6]

The gourd is harvested between late July and September. The white flesh of the gourd is cut into strips 3 cm wide and 3 mm thick, then either dried in the sun or dehydrated.[7][failed verification] Over 200 tons a year of dried kanpyō are produced per year.[3] Kanpyō available in the United States is sometimes chemically bleach-dried to a very white color, as opposed to the creamy color of the naturally-dried kind.[5]Sulfur dioxide is sometimes used as a fumigant but must not be used in concentrations exceeding 5.0 g per 1 kg of dry matter.[8]

Dishes featuring kanpyō edit

 
The traditional new year dish kombu-maki tied with strips of kanpyō

In addition to being the focus of many dishes, kanpyō strips are frequently used as an edible twist tie in dishes such as fukusa-zushi and chakin-zushi.[3] Typically the dried strips are boiled to soften, and then boiled a second time with soy sauce, sugar, and other ingredients added for flavor.[3][9]

 
Kanpyō-maki rolls
 
Kanpyō drying in Minakuchi-juku from The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō by Hiroshige

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  2. ^ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee to Review the Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium (2019). Oria, Maria; Harrison, Meghan; Stallings, Virginia A. (eds.). Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US). ISBN 978-0-309-48834-1. PMID 30844154.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lowry, Dave (2005). The Connoisseur's Guide to Sushi: Everything You Need to Know about Sushi Varieties and Accompaniments, Etiquette and Dining Tips, and More. Harvard Common Press. ISBN 9781558323070. OCLC 962114405. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Kanpyo Facts and Nutritional Value". 2017-11-27. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
  5. ^ a b c Homma, Gaku (1991). The Folk Art of Japanese Country Cooking: A Traditional Diet for Today's World. Translated by Busch, Emily. North Atlantic Books. pp. 80–81. ISBN 9781556430985. OCLC 22623869.
  6. ^ a b "祝!「歴史とロマンのかんぴょう街道」開通" [Congratulation! "History and romance Kanpyō Highway" opened] (html). Mibu Town Tochigi (in Japanese). 321-0292 栃木県下都賀郡壬生町通町12番22号. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  7. ^ "かんぴょう" [Kanpyō]. Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 153301537. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  8. ^ "食品添加物の指定、使用基準の改正等について" [About designation of food additive, revision of use standard] (html). 厚生労働省 (in Japanese). 20 January 2004. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  9. ^ a b Kawasumi, Ken (2001). The Encyclopedia of Sushi Rolls. Translated by Driussi, Laura. Japan Publications Trading. ISBN 9784889960761. OCLC 921930235. Retrieved 3 July 2019.