December 6th, 2006

How about postcards made from squid?

These Japanese postcards, are made from dried squid (Todarodes Pacificus to be exact) or surume, and are called, appropriately enough, Surumail. You don't actually write on the squid. No, it's packaged into a postcard shape, and then you write your message on a sticker that goes on the outside of the package.

I would dearly love to have one, if only to see the reaction at the local post office when I mailed it. But who would I send it to? After all, dried squid isn't part of the typical American diet. Trying to send one in the States would most likely result in a visit from the Homeland Security folks.

This does lead one to think about what other edible food can be made into a postcard. Dried fruit? Candy? Beef jerky should work well. It's called 'snailmail'–why not escargot?

Better yet, use Spam. There would be a certain poetic irony in using Spam as mail.

(More on Surumail at Pink Tentacle.)

Comments
1
steve - 7:23 am 12/6/2006

Perfect for spies who must eat or otherwise destroy all messages once they've been read.

2
Charles - 12:11 pm 12/6/2006

Dried squid is delicious, I've got a pack of it on my kitchen shelf right now. You can buy it at any decent Asian foods store, ask for "saki ika." It usually comes shredded, as it is pretty chewy and can be a little tough to pull apart when sold whole like in the postcard. Saki ika comes in various flavors like barbeque, soy, etc. but I like it plain.

3
Stu Savory - 12:50 pm 12/7/2006

»In a perfect world, spammers would get caught, go to jail, and share a cell with many gay men who have enlarged their penises, taken Viagra and are looking for a new relationship.« Author unknown (to me, anyway).

4
Ethan - 2:27 pm 12/7/2006

And so postcards made of squid
fall in the sea
eventually.

5

Postcards made of dried squid? If anyone sent me one, I'd take it out of the envelope with tweezers and toss it in the garbage. Yuck.

Thanks to all those who have contributed to the discussion. Comments are now closed, but you can contact the author of the post directly.