The episode is about a journey into the ancient world of ninjas, focusing on the food they ate to maintain stealth and energy during their missions. The host, Sola El Whaley, recreates an ancient recipe, using ingredients that were common during the time of the ninjas.
The food items prepared are small, energy-packed balls made from a combination of rice, sugar, and various fruits and vegetables. These were designed to provide quick energy and were essential for the stealthy operations of the ninjas.
The episode also touches on the historical context of ninjas, highlighting that their origins date back to the 12th century in feudal Japan. The host explains that the knowledge of ninjas comes from the Bansanchukai, a series of scrolls written by ninja fujibayashi about their culture and tactics.
The recipe for the energy balls includes ingredients like asiatic ginger, purple yam, lotus pips, jove's tears, rice, and rock sugar. These ingredients are mortar and pounded together with water, then rolled into balls and steamed.
The episode also covers the creation of thirst balls, made from rock sugar, fresh mint, and umaboshi plum. The host explains that these balls were said to provide enough hydration for 45 days.
The final type of ball covered in the episode is the hunger ball, made from rice, japanese yam, ginseng, licorice root, and buckwheat flour. These balls were intended to provide long-term sustenance.
Throughout the episode, the host emphasizes the meticulous process of creating these tiny balls, from grinding the ingredients to rolling them into perfect spheres. The host notes that these ninja foods were not only a means of sustenance, but also a way of communicating secret messages during their missions.
The episode ends with the host tasting the recreated balls, describing each one as "tasty" and "interesting". The host concludes by expressing excitement about the potential of these ancient foods in modern cooking.
1. The episode discusses the food that ninjas ate to be stealthy and have energy.
2. The host, Sola El Whaley, is making ancient versions of dishes that ninjas would have eaten.
3. The foods are small balls that ninjas could eat quietly and without causing bad breath or flatulence.
4. The episode mentions that ninjas were guerrilla fighters in feudal Japan with origins dating as far back as the 12th century.
5. The scrolls written by ninja fujibayashi about their culture and tactics are the source of the knowledge about ninjas.
6. The ninja balls are made by mortaring and pestling a bunch of ingredients, kneading them together with water, and then rolling them into balls.
7. The ingredients for the ninja balls include rice, ingredients high in sugar, and ingredients like asiatic ginger, yam, lotus pips, and jove's tears.
8. The ninja balls are steamed to keep them small and manageable.
9. The ninja balls are packed with enough nutrition to sustain the ninjas for long missions.
10. The ninjas avoided pungent foods to avoid being sniffed out by enemies.
11. The ninjas were mindful of body odors from bad breath to flatulence.
12. The ninja balls were small enough to fit into fabric pouches for easy carrying.
13. The episode mentions that ninjas were said to have stored these balls in fabric pouches.
14. The episode mentions that the ninjas would have added rye fungus to the balls, which could have caused hallucinations similar to LSD.
15. The ninja balls were not just for quick energy, but also for long-term sustenance.
16. The episode mentions that after the ninjas made the balls, they would soak them in sake for three years.
17. The episode mentions that the thirst balls made the ninjas high and the hunger balls made them drunk.
18. The episode mentions that the ninjas were said to have kept a close eye on their weight and adhered to the commonly cited ironclad rule which stated that they couldn't weigh over 130 pounds or 60 kilos.
19. The episode mentions that the ninjas would eat these tiny balls five to seven at a time to stay alive.
20. The episode mentions that the ninjas used food as a way to send secret messages.