Do you love sushi? This Japanese dish is best ordered at a sushi bar, where the preparation and serving of the dish follows the original traditions. Don't be surprised that in such an establishment you will be given wet towels before your meal. We will tell you more about this tradition.
Residents of Japan fill their lives with secret rituals that help them cope with the negativity accumulated during the day. For example, they have a special technique for preparing and serving small wet towels before meals. They are used for their intended purpose to wipe their hands.
IMPORTANT! The Japanese also believe that napkins remove accumulated negative energy. Therefore, in addition to the hands, sometimes the face is wiped with a textile product.
When and why are wet towels served at a sushi bar?
We are all accustomed to textile and paper napkins in restaurants. But when receiving oshibori for the first time, some sushi bar patrons are surprised that it is soggy.
Small napkins soaked in moisture are served in restaurants and sushi bars just before eating.
Important! Wet towels are used in any restaurant or cafe in Japan. This is an important tradition that is observed by all residents of the country.
They are served by waiters immediately before the meal so that the person can freshen up and perform hygienic hand cleaning before eating.
The Japanese have elevated the serving of small wet wipes to a real art. Some sushi bars serve towels rolled into animal shapes. Beautiful coasters and decorations are also used.
IMPORTANT! Keep in mind: the presence and correct serving of oshibori may be an additional indicator of the establishment for you.
What is useful to know about towels in a sushi bar
The Japanese have had the custom of serving wet wipes before meals for a very long time. During this time, the technology of textile supply has reached the level of a real ritual. Towels are prepared and served in a special way. They are considered a special accessory that helps fight accumulated negative energy.
What are the correct names of towels?
In Russian, the name of the Japanese wet wipe sounds like "oshibori" or "oshibori". They are disposable or reusable sanitary napkins that are provided in restaurants so that a person can wipe their hands and face before and during meals.
Towels are served on a special stand.
This tradition is mandatory for all real sushi bars, no matter what country they are in.
Types of wet towels
You should also know that these napkins may be different.
Disposable
Disposable towels are usually a small paper napkin that is impregnated with an antiseptic composition, often alcohol-based. They are placed on tables in restaurants in special plastic packaging or sold together with chopsticks.
After use, discard immediately.
Reusable
Usually this textile terry or waffle products. After use, they are taken to the dry cleaner and washed to be used again for clients.
Keep in mind: you may receive different towels: cold or hot. This is due to the peculiarities of supply at different times of the year.
- In summer, oshibori is cooled in ice water or a special refrigerator.
- And in winter they are heated using hot water or a steamer.
Important! Many restaurants have additional refrigerators and steamers for preparing oshibori.
How to use oshibori correctly
So, special wet wipes are in front of you. How to use them correctly?
- Start with them! Wipe your hands, you can also wipe your face.
- If you are served disposable towels in plastic wrap, pay attention to the special cut on the packaging. This is done so that the client can easily remove the packaging.
- After wiping your hands, you can safely eat sushi with your hands! This does not contradict etiquette rules.
- Wet towels can be used the entire time you are at the table.
- At the end of the meal, simply throw away the disposable napkin. But it is customary to roll the fabric one as neatly as it was served. All napkins are placed on the stand that was used for oshibori when serving.
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