January 2025 Monthly Bites Snowy Regions (雪国)


Kanazawa Houjicha (Roasted Green Tea) with Brown Rice
(玄米入り金沢棒ほうじ茶)
Producer: Ten Riverside
Prefecture: Ishikawa

While most teas are made from delicate tea leaves, this unique tea tracing back to 1902 in Kanazawa, is crafted from the stems of the tencha tea bush, the leaves of which are used to make matcha. Often discarded, the stems are less bitter with less caffeine.
The tea stems used in this blend are JAS and Rainforest Alliance-certified organic and roasted using proprietary technology developed in collaboration with a local university. The addition of roasted brown rice echoes the tea’s toasted flavor, creating a fragrant tea with a mellow sweetness.
Initially founded as a ship-building company in 1943, Kaga Kensetsu is a civil engineering company that also dabbles in Kanazawa City’s restaurant and cafe scene. Their Ten Riverside cafe and Boucha tea company focus on making organic boucha more accessible through their in-house roasted blends.

Ingredients: Organic green tea (domestic), organic brown rice (domestic)
Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-free, Soy-free
Suggested uses: Add one tea bag to a cup with 150-200ml of boiling water and steep for 1-2 mins, depending on desired strength. Can also be served iced.





Ginger & Root Vegetable Soup
 (しょうがと根菜のスープ)
Producer: Asuzac Foods
Prefecture: Nagano

There’s nothing quite like the spice of ginger to warm you up on a winter day. Prepared with julienned, chopped, and grated domestic ginger, each bite of this root vegetable soup is full of spicy-sweet flavor. The bonito fish-based stock lends a savory richness that beautifully balances the spice of the ginger, while five types of root vegetables, including lotus root, burdock, and carrot, add color and an earthy crunch.

Ingredients: Soy sauce, dextrin, starch, seafood extract, bonito stock, ginger paste, salt, yeast extract, sugar, pork extract, kelp extract, ingredients (burdock root (domestic), boiled lotus root, mizuna (Japanese mustard greens), ginger, dried carrot),  antioxidant (V.E), (including wheat, soybeans, pork)Dairy-free
Suggested uses: Mix the contents of the package with 160ml (~⅔ of a cup) of hot water. Let the ingredients fully rehydrate and enjoy! Make it a meal by adding your favorite Japanese noodles such as somen or soba, or serving alongside rice or bread.





Konnyaku (Konjac) Chips (Scallop Flavor)
(こんにゃくチップス ホタテ味)

Made from dried konnyaku (konjac), a Japanese food made from mountain yams, these chewy chips are infused with a scallop flavor that is enhanced the more you chew. They’re also Asuzac Foods’ most popular konjac chip flavor!

Ingredients:
Konnyaku (konjac) (domestic), reduced starch syrup, seafood extract, yeast extract, salt Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Soy-free
Suggested uses:Enjoy as is or pair with mixed nuts for a savory snack. Delicious with a glass of Chardonnay.

 




Fried Fu (Wheat Gluten)
(仙台麩)
Producer:Yamagataya Shōten
Prefecture:Miyagi

Fu (wheat gluten) is a chewy substance similar to dried bread and is what remains after the starch has been removed from wheat. Aburafu (deep-fried fu) is made by shaping the wheat gluten into a long, baguette-like loaf, and then deep frying it until crispy. With little taste of its own, aburafu absorbs the flavors of the sauces and seasonings it's paired with, making it perfect for soups, curries, stir-fries, and noodle dishes.
Yamagataya Shōten produces their Sendai Fu in Miyagi Prefecture. The fu gets its name from Sendai which is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture and has been certified as both vegan and halal for the many Muslims who live in Miyagi.

Ingredients: Wheat flour, gluten, vegetable oil (soybean oil) Vegan, Dairy-free
Suggested uses:Use in miso soup, curry, stir-fries, rice porridge, or noodle dishes. For soup dishes, add the fu as is. For stir-fried and simmered foods, soak in warm water to rehydrate then squeeze to remove excess water. You can also eat the fu as is by sprinkling it with salt and enjoying it as a crunchy snack similar to a cracker or crouton. Works well in French onion soup and panzanella salads, too!




Hokkaido Salmon Jerky (Dashi Flavored)
(むきむきサーモン)
Producer:Hokkaido Hinode Shokuhin
Prefecture:Hokkaido

The cold waters surrounding Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island, are renowned for their high-quality seafood and seaweed products, including the locally sourced salmon used to make this unique snack. Bite-sized pieces of fresh salmon are dried then combined with umami-enhancing ingredients including a konbu (kelp) and katsuo (bonito/skipjack tuna) dashi and soy sauce to bring out the rich flavors of the fish.
Located in Nemuro City, the easternmost city in Japan, Hokkaido Hinode Shokuhin is known for its additive-free snacks that embrace the area’s natural ingredients, such as fresh local seafood and seaweed. Hinode means sunrise and commemorates Nemuro City as a popular location to capture the first glimpse of the sun as it rises over the eastern horizon.

Ingredients: Salmon (Hokkaido), reduced starch syrup, konbu (kelp) dashi, katsuo (bonito) dashi, yeast extract, salt, konbu (kelp) soy sauce Dairy-free
Suggested uses: Enjoy as is with your favorite beverage or with a dip made of mayo mixed with shichimi togarashi* (Japanese seven-spice blend available in our Introduction to Japanese Food: “Omakase” Package).
Storage: Refrigerate after opening and use as soon as possible. 

 



Twisted Wheat Snack
(ねじり棒スナック)
Producer:Sanko
Prefecture:Aichi

This light and airy snack is made from domestically grown wheat that is fried until perfectly crisp and finished with a sprinkling of salt that enhances the natural nuttiness and hearty flavor of the wheat.
Headquartered in Toyohashi City in Aichi Prefecture, Sanko strives to connect people through its diverse line of snacks and sweets, including allergen-safe options, nutrient-dense foods, and domestic organically-grown goods. They want everyone to enjoy the deliciousness of nature and healthy eating!

Ingredients: Wheat flour (wheat (domestic)), sweet potato starch, vegetable oil (palm oil, rice oil), salt, baking powder (aluminium-free)Vegan, Dairy-free, Soy-free
Suggested uses:
 Enjoy as is or add to your favorite snack mix! Can also be seasoned with your favorite spices to create a signature snack.
Storage: Room temperature.

 

 



Wafu Bagna Cauda Sauce
(和風バーニャカウダ ソース)
Producer: Odawaraya
Prefecture: Fukushima

Commonly found on holiday buffet tables in Italian homes, savory bagna cauda sauce is transformed into a fun fusion food by using uniquely Japanese ingredients. Umami-rich shirasu (whitebait) is used in place of the traditional anchovies, while shio koji (salted rice malt) adds a sweet and salty taste that enhances the robust garlic flavor.
Odowaraya has been pickling seasonal domestic vegetables using local ingredients for over 80 years. Every year they hold a two-day festival that draws over 3,000 customers to their production facilities, allowing them to visit and personally meet the individuals who make these special foods.

Ingredients:Garlic (from Spain), onion, olive oil, rice, rice koji, salt, milk, whitebait, cream, spices Gluten-free, Soy-free
Suggested uses: Use as a dipping sauce for raw vegetables and crusty bread or as a seasoning for meat and seafood. Also works well as a topping for garlic bread or a simple sauce for pasta.
Storage: Refrigerate after opening and use as soon as possible.





Soba Karinto (Brown Sugar Buckwheat Snack)
(そばかりんとう)
Producer: Kutsuma Seihun
Prefecture: Kanagawa

A simple sweet snack, karinto are bite-sized pillows of deep-fried dough coated in brown sugar. Sold by street vendors since the early 1830s, this classic confection remains popular today. These special karinto are also made using traditionally milled Hokkaido soba (buckwheat) flour which adds a distinctive buttery richness.
Kutsuma Seihun has been producing soba flour since 1868 and strives to create products that follow the ancient wisdom of the Japanese, who have been eating soba for centuries. Today, the company’s skilled craftsmen continue to use traditional old-fashioned millstones to grind their carefully selected soba.

Ingredients:Wheat flour (produced in Japan), sugar, vegetable oil (rice bran oil), buckwheat flour, starch syrup, yeast, salt
Vegan, Dairy-free, Soy-free
Suggested uses:Enjoy as is. Pairs well with green tea or alcohol. Or enjoy with our sobacha buckwheat tea (available in our Japanese Green & Specialty Teas “Ryu” Package) for extra soba flavor.