Octopus is a common ingredient in Japanese cuisine, including sushi, takoyaki and akashiyaki. It is also consumed raw in Korea as a novelty food. Octopus is very popular in the Maldives, Mauritius, Europe (Greece, Spain, Portugal, Turkey), Tunisia, and the United States. Consumed raw, octopus tastes like the sea – salty and sweet at the same time. Depending on its seasonings, normally paired with sesame oil, raw octopus takes on a subtle, nutty flavor. It retains its smooth and slimy texture, which can also feel rubbery. When cooked on its own, this seafood can taste quite bland.