Peach Milk Drink Mix (牛乳ももミックス)
Producer: Asuzac Food
Prefecture: Nagano

Often enjoyed as a post-onsen (hot springs) refreshment, fruit milk can be found in an array of flavors across Japan. This milk peach drink mix is made with plump pieces of yellow peach imported from Greece, said to be some of the best in the world, that have been freeze-dried to preserve peak flavor and freshness. Supplemented with orange, banana, mango, and apple, the resulting beverage has a mellow sweetness and depth of fruity flavor that combines with the richness of milk to create a luxurious yet refreshing drink.

For over 60 years, Asuzac Foods has been producing dried and freeze-dried goods, including fruits, vegetables, soup mixes, beverage mixes, and confections, all to make foods more delicious and easier to use. Mindful of the environment, the company believes that drying its products makes them healthier and results in less waste, benefiting customers and the environment.

This award-winning furikake is perfect for those who are curious about natto!  Awarded for 3 years running at the National Furikake Grand Prix (including the gold medal in 2015), this unique rice seasoning is made with domestically sourced ingredients and innovative freeze-drying technology. The freeze-dried hikiwari natto, which is made with crushed soybeans and has a shorter fermentation time, has a milder taste and takes on natto’s signature sticky texture and aroma as you eat. Thin strips of Tsuuho’s signature roasted seaweed, crispy rice cracker bits, and pieces of dried shiitake mushrooms add a savory, salty flavor and satisfying crunchy texture.

Tsuuho strives to deliver the most delicious seaweed from the Ariake Sea. Working along the shorelines of Kumamoto City, the company cultivates its seaweed in the nutrient-rich waters of the Ariake Sea, which is said to produce some of the best nori in Japan. Working with skilled artisans in each step of the production process, Tsuuho produces high-quality seaweed with a rich umami flavor and delicate melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Once a staple in the Okinawa diet, beni imo (purple sweet potatoes) remain a beloved island flavor. This tropical twist on the classic snack imo kenpi, these purple sweet potato sticks are made with purple sweet potatoes grown on Okinawa’s southern island of Ishigaki on Seifuku Shuzo’s own farm. The deep purple potatoes have a sweet earth flavor and fragrance that shines when thinly cut, fried until crispy, and coated with a thin layer of sugar. Addictively crunchy and lightly sweetened, these purple sweet potato sticks are the perfect bite-sized snack.

Since 1949, Seifuku Shuzo has been striving to create innovations in the awamori (traditional Okinawan rice liquor) industry while continuing to keep age-old methods, like open flame kettle distilling, alive. In collaboration with other breweries, Seifuku Shuzo has helped to revive ancient Ryukyu awamoris that haven’t been made in over 100 years. In addition to making awamori, the company also embraces island flavors through the snacks and sweets crafted to pair with its alcoholic products.

Made with 100% pure local black sugar, this Okinawa kokuto perfectly captures the true taste of this local specialty. More nuanced than typical brown sugar, kokuto has a unique flavor with rich notes of licorice, caramel and toffee. Enjoy it as a treat on its own or use it in place of regular sweeteners in everything from desserts and sauces to coffees and teas.

Peanuts are a local specialty in Okinawa, where they grow throughout the islands from the end of the summer into late October. Called jimami, which translates to “ground nuts”, peanuts can be found in regional dishes like jimami tofu, a nut-based tofu similar to gomadofu (sesame tofu) that is often served with sweetened soy sauce or black sugar syrup. Made with peanuts and kokuto (Okinawa black sugar), this sweet, nutty snack is full of nostalgic flavors loved by locals.