Right - am currently reluctantly sipping my first miso soup and...

[SchneeBallFight]

..is is supposed to taste like salty gravy? I am trying to be a bit healthier but struggling to drink 'gravy' for breakfast! Maybe I didnt add enough water? How many Mililitres do you reckon an average mug holds?

that stuff is disgusting !!!

Gag!

I remember the last time I had real influenza, not just some bad cold.

My ex H brought me miso soup, telling me it would help.

So I choked it down.

I coughed so badly I threw it all up.

Horrid.

I use miso as a base for noodle soup. Throw in some steamed veg, cooked prawns, a handful of cooked instant noodles, a splash of sweet chilli sauce and some coriander.
Nee How.

It is rather nice.

Not sure if I could eat it for breakfast though!

Oh, and I use one silver packet with about 400ml boiling water

oh no it's awful!! i've had it at wagamamas so am sure they make it properly and it is vile. yak.

Glad I am not the only one who can't stomach it in the morning - thought I would do it Japanese style and have it first thing but felt rather nauseated! It said on the packet to add 160ml of water per sachet - I am sure a mug holds at least that amount and it was still really salty and strong! Needless to say I chucked it and had a cup of tea!

Have a bowl of porridge.

Not Japanese porridge though expat, that is even worse than Miso Soup.

I recall living in Malaysia, often on the breakfast menu was fish head soup or fried noodles.

Give me branflakes or toast anyday.

Guess it is what your tastebuds are used to - I love Miso - in fact I use it to make gravy, put it on toast and of course soup. My kids like it. I don´t use instant miso soup packets, but my sister recently left me some and they were delicious!

Packet miso is dubious. Like pot noodle v. freshly made ramen. Not sure how healthy it is as well.

Oriental food is generally stronger tasting. And might be too much for western palates, esp in the morning.

am quite used to oriental food as I work in a chinese restaurant but havent had much japanese food before. I was a bit about packet miso but was reliably (or so I thought) informed that is was not much different. It was a kind of thick paste in sachets - blue dragon I think?

Miso soup varies A LOT - some are bad but some are gorgeous. I seem to remember Clearspring make good ones - definitely buy from health food shops, not supermarkets. Organic definitely tastes better too.

It's all minging.

Supposedly good for the immune system, though.

What else is good for immune system? - I seem to be low lately...had a boil (yeuch), cracked corners of mouth, skin getting a bit dodgy etc, etc. Need a boost!

Elderberry extract, garlic, fish oils and Vit C.

thanks expat! Am taking fish oil and multi vit - will add garlic to the concoction and maybe elderberry too. Would moderate garlic consumption be reasonable or would it be better to take a supplement do you think?

Just eat the garlic. It's yummy!

I take elderberry extract - get it from Neal's Yard in a tincture to put in water.

Especially good for respiratory viruses like influenza, which I get exposed to b/c I work w/students.

Thanks - I like garlic anyway but haven't been eating too well lately. Have been having a stressfull time with my course but am finished now until end of Jan so no excuse! Think I will make a garlicky spaghetti bolognese for dinner yum!

Will try Neals Yard for the elderberry extract.

Thanks again.

...use the paste, not the powder...get the stuff in big tubs from an oritental supermarket ( or the japanese one in piccadilly if you are close enough)...the darker ones are more salty...Whatever you do, dont boil it - it makes it go very salty. A little wakame, some chopped sping onions - or the supermarket sells a dried mix for putting into it. It will separate quickly, so stir before serving.

I live in Japan, so cant get away from it...