A Bento Box is a Japanese-style lunchbox food that includes rice or noodles, eggs or meat, vegetables and other side dishes. Each part of the food is very neatly placed in classes, touching the other without one part. It is balanced in the required amount of carbs (rice or noodles), protein (meat, eggs, tofu or seafood) and vitamins (fruit or vegetarian). This part also helps people who eat control and arbitrariness.
Working period
The origin of Bento food can be traced back in the 12th century in the working period. Hoshi-II (dry rice “) was developed to work in a dry rice food. It could be eaten, or cooked in water, and was stored in a small bag. In the 16th century, wooden boxes were used to store food. These food will be eaten during tea parties or during Hanmi. (A custom to praise Cherry Blossom)
Eido period
The Bento culture became more sophisticated and more wider during this period. Passenger and vision will take a federal (“waist bento”, today a fannie pack (“waist bento”. The food includes Onigiri, which includes Umboshi (spicy Chinese plum), salmon, katsubuhi (smoked and fermented bonito fish) and Kombu (Edibal Kelpu (“(” “Biddle Bento”. The theater-goer was sold during the gap of Nah and Kabuki (styles of Japanese theaters).
Meji Yuga
Meji Yuga saw the rise of Ekbanto. (“Train Station Bentos”). This tradition is believed to be launched at Udunomia station in the Kanto region, and the meal included two Onigiri and bamboo leaves. During this time, schools did not provide food, so students and teachers ran Bentos.
Kyaraben Polar Bear Bento Box | Photo Credit: Picasa 2.7
Tajo era and decline
This is where the aluminum bento box emerged, and due to its easy-to-facilitated facility and its metallic glow, was seen as a symbol of luxury. As much as the blessing was, he came with a curse. During the First World War, there were money inequalities after an export bounce and in some places there was crop failure such as the Tokoku region. Until the World War II ended, Bento food declined significantly and people turned into equal food, which were provided to students and teachers by schools.
Bento Box Kyaraben | Photo Credit: Freepic
Revival
Bento food gained its popularity in the 80s, emerging as a feature store frozen food. Wood and metal boxes were replaced with polystine boxes. Handmade Bento food has also returned. Children and office cows still carry handmade bento box made by their mothers or wives. They are also commonly used as lunch packed for road trips. Homemade Bentos are wrapped in furosual fabric, which doubles the carrie bag and a tablespoon. The homemade Bento takes a lot of time and effort to prepare the box, so Japanese housewives usually prepare some material before night.
Although the tradition of Bento food is native to Japan, the tradition of boxing food has spread especially to other countries within Asia. Countries like China, Singapore, India and Korea are carrying forward the tradition of boxing food.
Japanese Boxing Lunch | Photo Credit: Bonchain
China
China calls its food héfàn or biàndāng. There are various styles based on this region. Hong Kong has specific “two foods with rice”. The food came in a box called Shure. Shíhé’s design will be from simple to multi-level.
Japanese Boxing Lunch | Photo Credit: Bonchain
Taiwan
Taiwan was introduced for Bento food during the first half of the 20th century during the Japanese colonial period and was called Piaan-Tong. A modern Taiwanese Bento box contains some forms of compulsory proteins, whether it is a fried chicken leg-piece, grilled mackerel or marinated pork chop. Taiwan Railway Administration Head provides Bento food in train cars at railway stations, called Taiwan Railway Bento.
Korea
The packed lunch is called dosirak. They are similar to Japanese and Chinese style, except they are light on meat and vegetables, and come with kimchi.
Handmade Bento Box | Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Think about it
Look closely at this picture. It is a Hinomaru Bento box with plain rice and umboshi, nothing but a Japanese pickle. Does this Bento Box remind you anything related to Japan? Answer us in the comments.
India
India, as we know, is a popular system of tiffin food for both school children and working people. Different cultures and taste tiffins in each house add the variety of food.
Mumbai has a long -standing dabbavala (literally “Tiffin Career”) in Mumbai since 1890, where Dabbavalas gave the working people homemade food in a lunch box through a bicycle or train.
In the late 1800s, there were many migrant workers who came to Bombay. They went to work in the morning and went hungry for lunch. After coming from various communities, they only wanted homemade food. Therefore, in 1890, the Mahadeo Hawaji child started delivery service of lunch with about a hundred men. The service was a major success and in 1968, commercialized commercialization under the name of Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association.
A tiffin meal. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Singapore
Singapore’s Bento food includes roasted pork, soy eggs and fried rice. The tradition began in the early 20th century and intensified during Japanese occupation.
In 2021, the Singapore Food Tech event showed a bento box food for a permanent future. Food is accompanied by plant-based meat, vegetarian cashew cheese and rice less glycemic index. (How soon a remedy increases a certain food item blood sugar levels)
Bento food is closely tied with Japanese values of beauty, balance and simplicity. Each Bento Food follows the rule of five. They cover five different tastes: sweet, sour, salty, spicy and charming. They also fascinate the five different senses of the human body: vision, smell, taste, felt and sound (such as vegetables or deficiency of fried shrimp). The Bento box is made visually attractive, making them look like anime or cartoon characters. They are popularly seen in Kayaben Bento food.
Bento Box Kyaraben | Photo Credit: Freepic
Bento box is more than just one meal, it is the balance of nutrition, artistry and culture which is still popular today.
