Umibudou: 海ぶどう

Umibudou- 海 means “ocean” and ぶどう means “grapes.” Sea grapes are sometimes referred to as green caviar, even though it is a type of seaweed. Little salty bubbles grow from the stems, so that we you eat it you get a little burst of salty southern sea in you mouth. It is a unique and refreshing mouth sensation, one that goes quite well with a cold beer in summertime. Umibudou are often served as a side dish in Okinawa izakaya. Usually the umibudou are served with shoyu and vinegar (ponzu ポン酢).

Rich in minerals, low in calories, umibudou are indeed a nice side dish when you relax and drink.