Goya Day isn't necessarily a holiday in Okinawa. However, it's the recognition of a traditional fruit grown in Okinawa, goya. While being classified as such, most outside of Asian countries wouldn't believe so as it is bitter in taste; it's known more widely around the world as bitter melon.
Goya is a staple of many Okinawan dishes as you can cook—or even order—a lot of traditional foods prepared with it. The most popular that you'll find on a menu is goya chanpuru. Though, it can be found battered, fried, and sold in tempura shops or sections around the island as well. Some even throw it in their pasta!
There are many varieties of goya, from the Chinese to Indian. However, the goya grown in Okinawa closely resembles the Indian variety in shape, color, and size, being long, green, sometimes with a curve of a banana with a rough texture.
Pictured below is how large they can get as it can be seen next to a number 2 pencil.
Do you know where to buy one this large?
Goya is one of the healthiest foods that you can include in any dish as it is chopped full of multiple vitamins and minerals.
There is 40% a daily serving of Vitamin C within goya. It also packs 8% of Zinc which is important for those looking for a good night's sleep. It's also said to help with fatigue and heat exhaustion—which you'll get plenty of in Okinawa's summers. Goya can also reduce blood sugar and cholesterol in the body, if you can get past the bitterness, too!
Goya Day, albeit it not a traditional holiday and not recognized by many, comes every year in Okinawa on May 8th as numbers, too, are important in Japan; go meaning five and ya for yattsu (when counting in Japanese: 1, 2, 3…).
Goya is a staple of many Okinawan dishes as you can cook—or even order—a lot of traditional foods prepared with it. The most popular that you'll find on a menu is goya chanpuru. Though, it can be found battered, fried, and sold in tempura shops or sections around the island as well. Some even throw it in their pasta!
There are many varieties of goya, from the Chinese to Indian. However, the goya grown in Okinawa closely resembles the Indian variety in shape, color, and size, being long, green, sometimes with a curve of a banana with a rough texture.
Pictured below is how large they can get as it can be seen next to a number 2 pencil.
Do you know where to buy one this large?
Goya is one of the healthiest foods that you can include in any dish as it is chopped full of multiple vitamins and minerals.
There is 40% a daily serving of Vitamin C within goya. It also packs 8% of Zinc which is important for those looking for a good night's sleep. It's also said to help with fatigue and heat exhaustion—which you'll get plenty of in Okinawa's summers. Goya can also reduce blood sugar and cholesterol in the body, if you can get past the bitterness, too!
Goya Day, albeit it not a traditional holiday and not recognized by many, comes every year in Okinawa on May 8th as numbers, too, are important in Japan; go meaning five and ya for yattsu (when counting in Japanese: 1, 2, 3…).
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