Yuzu Shichimi

Regional Japanese Hot Red Chili Pepper, naturally dried in the sun and milled into a powder. This full flavored chili is harvested at the peak of ripeness to preserve its signature bright red color from a select linage of the finest red chili peppers. This powerful chili pepper originated in Japan after Hideyoshi Toyotomi received them in 1592 as a reward for his service in the Korean Invasion.

Furikake was originally developed in Japan around 1912 by a pharmacist as a helpful solution to nutrition deficits. Then it was called Gohan No Tomo, A Friend for Rice. It was then a ground product to be sprinkled on top of cooked rice , vegetables, and fish. Over the last 100 years Furikake has be refined into the product we know today. Yuzu Furikake is one of the most popular and basic Furikakes in Japan. Yuzu Furikake has color , texture and a traditional taste. You get an emerald green look and a fresh sea taste from the small nori squares. A delightful crunch and nutty sesame taste from the Toasted White sesame seeds. A perfect balance of sweet and savory from a dash of sea salt and sugar. Yuzu has been described as Zesty, aromatic, subtle and coy. The Yuzu flavor is fresh bright & tart, closely resembling that of the grapefruit, with overtones of Tangerine and Meyer Lemon with subtle hints of Pine. Japanese love the essence of this wonderful fruit. Yuzu trees are common in Japan, especially in the temperate southern and western regions. Use Yuzu Furikake as a tasty topping for a variety of dishes.

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 green curry style, found in Miyagi Prefecture lends this curry to be milder with more emphasis on the umami qualities when its compared to its Indian & Southeast Asian counterparts. The Coriander, Cumin, Turmeric and Matcha Tea give this curry a warm vegetal aroma and deep earthy flavor. Sweetness comes from the Green Cardamom Seeds, Cinnamon’s bright zip and finally, Fenugreek adds its nutty, slightly sweet flavor . Sansho Grape Berry offer a welcomed warmth. The Anethole from fennel offer the licorice flavor and aroma. This refined and perfected green curry balances a ratio of 9 main spices with 8 trace sub spices is extremely popular in this region.

Ume Shiso Salt is a ultra premium garnishing and general sodium alternative with incredible flavor. Fermented, dried ume plum flavor, similar to an aged appricot is complimented very well by the herbal, vegetal, slightly sweet shiso leaves. This slightly bittersweet combination works brilliantly in this versatile sea salt. This salt is made with what the Japanese classify as "Snow Salt". They find it to be the purest sea salt available and its fine granuals deliver flavor to each application faster and more uniformly, a wonderfully versatile texture.

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, Chimpi Japanese Mandarin Orange, 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 floral essence of the mandarin orange. 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.