Cha Soba (Green Tea)

Udon Katakuriko, or Udon made from potato starch is made in the Hokkaido style, a mountainess region that receives heavy snowfall and is also one of the largest potato producing regions. The starch from the potato flour doesn't provide much potato flavor, but is necessary to produce the ideal Koshi, or "strong texture" preferred by most Udon lovers. This versatile noodle can be served hot or cold, in a broth or plain with a dipping sauce.

Hijiki Seaweed is a common ingredient across many Japanese dishes. It is used in salads, as a furikake on top of rice, in dashis and broths, or as a seasoning, among others. Hijiki is rich in dietary fibre and essential minerals such as calcium, iron, and magnesium. Farmers harvest the Hijiki in the spring between May and March during low tide. After collection, the seaweed is boiled and then dried in the open air. It can be milled as used as a powder or reconstituded.

Yaki-Nori or Roasted Seaweed is a vital ingredient of the sushi trade, used primarily for Maki and Nigiri. As sushi has become more mainstream, ingredients such as nori have been used across many cuisines. Nori is rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and trace minerals and has a wonderful natural flavor. Yaki-Nori sheets date back to the Edo period where it was first produced following the same techniques used in making paper. Nori grows best at a depth of around 25 feet and is typically grown on nets that can be easily harvested by boats. Each plant takes about 45 days from seed to first harvest and can reharvested about 10 times.

Katsuobushi, or Skipjack Tuna is filleted into 4 loins, simmered for couple of hours, deboned, rubbed with fish paste and then smoked for about a month. Each loin is then elegantly shaved down to create a perfect shape and is sprayed with a mold similar to Koji. The finished loins spend the next 6 months cycling between the humid fermentation room and the dry sunlight. Once complete, it is packaged whole or shaved. Katsuobushi is a fundemental and critical ingredient across all Japanese cuisine. It can be found in soup stocks (Dashi), salads, dipping sauces, marinades, rice dishes, sushi and is often used as a garnish.

Buckwheat is the second most harvested crop in Japan, behind only rice, making it a foundational ingredient throughout the cuisine. Buckwheat Soba is the bedrock pasta of Japanese Cuisine. If ramen is the Ramones of the noodle world, Soba is the Beatles. The thinking-man's noodle, a noodle of simplicity and contemplation. Crafted following multi-century old traditions handed down through the generations to carefully achieve the perfect nodogoshi, or "throat feel". Just the right amount of gluten to provide the ideal chewiness and texture. Serve hot or cold, in a dashi broth or dip in a kaeshi sauce (soy sauce and mirin base).