In Hawaii, Spam® is a must-have in every household. A comfort food enjoyed in a variety of ways, restaurants and home cooks alike utilize this versatile canned meat in an assortment of dishes, such as Spam musubi. Ma’Ona Musubi in Honolulu, HI, offers five interesting tidbits about Spam you may not know.

5 Interesting Spam Facts

Cooked Inside

The ingredients comprising Spam are mixed together and cooked right in the can it’s sold in. The Spam factory uses a conveyor belt system to pump in the contents, seal the can, cook and cool it, and then label it for shipping to stores worldwide.

Spam Leaders

Hawaii is the national leader of Spam consumption in the country. Hawaiian residents are recorded as eating about seven million cans of Spam per year. One of the most popular dishes is Spam musubi, which includes a slice of fried Spam on rice wrapped in seaweed. It is eaten like a sandwich and is the area’s favorite snack.

Spam Museum

There is an official Spam museum that not only gives a detailed history of the meat, but also allows guests to try canning it. The museum features live cooking demonstrations, so you can learn delicious recipes starring Spam.

Spam Meaning

The “mystery meat” also has a mysterious name. Only a few former executives from Spam’s founding company know the true meaning of Spam. Theories include “Specially Processed Artificial Meat” or a new word derived from “spiced ham.”

Not Really a Mystery

The ingredients are clearly listed on the label, so “mystery meat” is a bit of a misnomer. Spam is made from pork shoulder, ham, salt, water, sugar, potato starch, and sodium nitrate for that famous pink color. Contrary to what some people think, there are no quirky animal parts included in the recipe.

For delicious pam musubi, stop by Ma’ona Musubi. The restaurant’s convenient downtown location and tasty menu filled with fresh, quality ingredients set it apart as the musubi café of choice in Honolulu. In fact, this restaurant is the only place to use kaeshi, a flavorful mix found in Japanese dishes, with their musubis. To learn more about their musubi selections, visit them online or call (808) 536-8009.