Santaka Spice

Yuzu Shichimi Togarashi is a fundamental 7-spice blend with tremendous history and importance throughout Japanese cuisine and represents the history and cultural refinement of this great cuisine. Shichimi Togarashi is a 7 spice blend developed in Edo (Modern Day Tokyo), Japan in 1625. The ingredients were first introduced to the Japanese by Portuguese missionaries around 1605. Over the past 400 years, these spice cultivators and craftsman have been able to refine farming practices and proprietary blending ratios that would make their ancestors proud. The seven prized ingredients that make up Shichimi Togarashi are Bansho Chili Pepper, Yuzu Fruit, Goma Toasted Black Sesame, Otane Hemp Seed, Shiso Japanese Basil, Sansho Chili Pepper and Byakukyo Japanese Ginger. The aroma is highlighted by the warmth given off by the chilies and the bright,floral essence of the yuzu. The clean spicy flavors of the dried peppers standout, but are balanced with toasted black sesame, hemp seed and herbal characteristics of the dried shiso. The ginger is also a welcomed addition to this blend and offer a different type of spiciness, acidity and subtle sweetness. This blend is a pillar of this revered cuisine.

Mustard plants are very rare in Japan. Japanese mustard seeds are very high quality seeds with powerful aroma & flavors. Wagarashi has a very hot mustard taste opposed to western mustards. Japanese Hot Wagarashi mustard powder consists of only ground yellow/brown Japanese mustard seeds. Traditional hot Japanese mustard is made by only adding water to milled seed powder which yields a very straight forward spicy flavor and allows it to be used well with a variety of other ingredients across many applications.

Japanese Akajiso Tea Cut Leaf is made with whole dried Japanese Red Shiso leaves which are hand selected and minimally handled to preserve the highest quality aroma and flavor. They then milled carefully into a versatile powder. Unsalted & unpickled, this lively, vibrant ingredient ranges from basil to mint, with earthy, vegetal overtones and a little zip. All Natural. Pesticide Free. Dried naturally and prepared using traditional Japanese techniques.

Japanese Akajiso Tea Cut Leaf is made with whole dried Japanese Red Shiso leaves which are hand selected and minimally handled to preserve the highest quality aroma and flavor. They then processed carefully into a tea-cut size. Unsalted & unpickled, this lively, vibrant ingredient ranges from basil to mint, with earthy, vegetal overtones and a little zip. All Natural. Pesticide Free. Dried naturally and prepared using traditional Japanese techniques.

Japan has been refining the original British curry recipe since it arrived in Japan over 100 years ago. The modern Japanese culinary scene is saturated with curry stands and it is the second most consummed dish behind sushi. This prized 18-spice regional, northern yellow curry style, found in the Yamagata Prefecture lends this curry to be milder with more emphasis on the umami qualities when its compared to its Indian & Southeast Asian counterparts. Japanese Yellow Curry has a unique flavor profile of both savory and sweet spices, with less heat. The Turmeric, Coriander, Cumin and Beiriifu provide a vegetal aroma and deep earthy flavor. Cardamom ads the sweetness along with the bright zip of cinnamon. The heat in this tantalizing mixture come from the perfect ratio of black pepper and regional red chili pepper. The Anethole from the star anise and fennel add the licorice flavor and aroma. This ultra-premium, refined and perfected yellow curry balances a ratio of 9 main spices with 9 trace sub spices is extremely popular in this region.

Japan has been refining the original British curry recipe since it arrived in Japan over 100 years ago. The modern Japanese culinary scene is saturated with curry stands and it is the second most consummed dish behind sushi. This regional, northern 10-spice Yellow curry style, found in the Akita Prefecture is the closest of the three yellow curries we carry to the Indian style, but is still very uniquely Japanese. It is the hottest of the yellow curries, but in general, Japanese curry is not as hot as the Indian counterparts. The base of Turmeric, Coriander and Cumin provide a vegetal aroma and a deep earthy flavor. The spice comes from black pepper, regional red chili peppers and ginger root, while the plentiful cardamom mellows with sweeteness. Fennel seed adds the licorice flavor and aroma. This refined and perfected yellow curry balances a ratio of 5 main spices with 5 trace sub spices is extremely popular in this region.