Recently, "rice balls" have become a hot topic, but the author has always used "rice balls" as a lunch box. At excursions and athletic meet, I couldn't wait from the morning to fill my mouth with the rice balls that my mother and grandmother gave me for lunch.

The shape and taste are different depending on the household, such as the bale shape and the triangle.
The shape and taste are different depending on the household, such as the bale shape and the triangle.

A questionnaire survey on such "rice balls" was conducted by MyVoiceCom. This time, we will introduce "favorite rice ball ingredients", drinks that you want to match with rice balls, points that everyone cares about when buying rice balls, etc. in a ranking format!

■ What is your favorite rice ball ingredient (type)?

1st place: Salmon (67.8%)
2nd place: cod roe (47.8%)
3rd place: Spicy cod roe (45.5%)
4th place: Tuna Mayonnaise (43.0%)
5th place: Kelp (42.3%)

"Salmon", the absolute champion of rice balls, is unrivaled in compatibility with white rice
"Salmon", the absolute champion of rice balls, is unrivaled in compatibility with white rice

――Honestly, I (the author) is shocked. Because when it comes to rice ball ingredients, I've always thought that the top three immovable "plum, salmon, and dried bonito " have been decided ...! However, in this survey, salmon was ranked first, but plum was ranked sixth and bonito was ranked seventh. I like cod roe and kelp, but I can't beat the horizontal character Tuna Mayo ... (I like Tuna Mayo too)!

Such Tuna Mayo seems to have a high approval rating from the younger generation, such as being the most popular among men in their teens and 20s, and the second most popular among men in their 30s and 40s and women in their 30s and under. The taste is friendly and the price is reasonable, so I wonder if students can easily pick it up at convenience stores. So, I guess this was the top 5 onigiri, taking into account the "cospa when buying and eating".

Also, as a minority opinion, there were eel (luxury!), Pork kimchi (although it is delicious), and cheese (fashionable).

Furthermore, by region, the food culture of each region appeared, such as how much in Hokkaido, grilled rice balls in Tohoku, Tenmusu in Chubu, and takana in Kyushu. Recently, even at convenience stores, " local rice balls " that incorporate local specialties are being sold.

Grilled rice balls that make you want to eat huff huff in the cold season
Grilled rice balls that make you want to eat huff huff in the cold season

■ What do you drink with rice balls?

1st place: Green tea (75.3%)
2nd place: Japanese tea-based beverages other than green tea (45.0%)
3rd place: Chinese tea-based beverages (20.8%)
4th place: Blended tea (20.5%)
5th place: Mineral water (10.4%)

Japanese heart
Japanese heart

Green tea is by far the best. After all, green tea is the best match for rice balls. Next in second place are "Japanese teas" such as barley tea, roasted tea, and genmaicha, and in third place are "Chinese teas" such as oolong tea, jasmine tea, and puer tea. "Not sweet" drinks are lined up at the top.

By the way, vegetable juice is in 8th place, carbonated drinks are in 9th place, and so on. And milk is also ranked in 12th place. … It seems a bit controversial, but this time I'll close my eyes and take it quietly.

■ What do you eat with rice balls?

1st place: Miso soup (50.9%)
2nd place: Side dishes, side dishes, etc. (34.1%)
3rd place: Instant cup noodles (16.4%)
4th place: Soups (15.0%)
5th place: Salad (14.1%)

No objection
No objection

Speaking of rice balls, miso soup is probably the only partner. The next morning after drinking alcohol, you may want to eat rice balls and miso soup.

I imagine that the reason why cup noodles are ranked in 3rd place is probably the lunch demand of students and businessmen who want to fill their stomachs with carbohydrates. It seems that some people put rice balls in the soup with the remaining cup noodles and eat it as an uncle or wind.

Minority opinions also included desserts, ice cream, pasta, gratin, and pizza. Now is the time to go to a conveyor belt sushi chain store to eat french fries and sweets, so I'm not surprised at what comes out.

■ Where do you always buy rice balls?

1st place: Convenience store (79.9%)
2nd place: Supermarket (46.1%)
3rd place: Onigiri specialty store (10.0%)
4th place: Do not buy rice balls on the market (8.3%)
5th place: Depachika (5.8%)

About 80% of people answered that they would buy it at a convenience store. Next is the supermarket in 2nd place. Recently, the number of fashionable rice ball specialty stores is increasing, so it is no wonder that 1 in 10 people buy at specialty stores.

But above all, I was impressed by the 4th place answer, "I don't buy rice balls on the market." I don't know the details, but I don't hate that dignified stance.

I think there are many people who say that rice balls have the taste of "Ofukuro".
I think there are many people who say that rice balls have the taste of "Ofukuro".

■ What do you care about when you buy rice balls?

1st place: Types of ingredients (70.2%)
2nd place: Taste (63.8%)
3rd place: Price (63.0%)
4th place: Best-by date (20.8%)
5th place: How to wrap seaweed (14.0%)

The 1st to 4th places are reasonable answers (not limited to rice balls). However, what surprised me was that the method of winding seaweed (series winding or manual winding by myself) was ranked in 5th place! And 14% ... quite a lot! In addition, there were many comments about seaweed in the free answer item "Commitment to rice balls" in the questionnaire. "Buy good quality seaweed" or "When you make it yourself, wrap it in a wrap so that the seaweed is crispy."

Certainly, there are different tastes for rice balls on the market, such as those who like the fluffy seaweed that sticks to the rice, and those who like the crispy and chewy seaweed. Nori is not just a tool to make rice balls easier to hold. I was reminded that it is one of the important factors that influences the overall taste.

By the way, when I eat at home, I choose crispy seaweed rice balls, and when I eat at the office desk, I choose close-fitting rice balls so that the seaweed does not fall apart.

Adhesive seaweed that does not rag on the keyboard
Adhesive seaweed that does not rag on the keyboard

Did you have a majority of your favorite rice ball ingredients, how to eat them, and the points to buy? Or is it a minority? Please ask your friends around you!