Storage: Room temperature.
The most widely available tea in Japan, sencha is made from young tea leaves and shoots that are steamed, dried, and rolled into needle-like shapes. The unique shape helps to intensify the flavor while the use of the young tea leaves gives sencha a delicate sweetness and mild astringency.
Kunitomo Farm’s unique sencha grows naturally deep in the mountains of Shikoku. Known as yamacha (lit. “mountain tea”), this tea is rare given its low yield. Certified organic and cultivated by hand using only natural fertilizers, this tea has been absorbing mountain nutrients since ancient times.
Kunitomo Farm’s owner spent 10 years testing over 200 processing methods to find one that works harmoniously with nature. This unique method uses five custom-made cauldrons to steam the leaves, reducing processing time and enhancing the tea’s flavor and natural mountain aroma.
Producer: Natural Attorait
Ingredients: Sugar, starch, organic matcha (from Kyoto), agar, konjac powder
Suggested uses: Enjoy as is. Best served cold. Try serving alongside fresh fruit or sweet red bean paste for added flavor and texture. Pairs well with a cup of tea from our Japanese Green & Specialty Teas “Ryu” Package.
A classic type of wagashi (Japanese confection), kanten is a type of firm jelly-like treat that serves as the perfect base to highlight seasonal and regional ingredients. To make this matcha kanten jelly, Natural Attorait uses organic matcha from Wazuka Town in Uji, Kyoto- the second oldest tea-growing region in Japan. The matcha, which is made with what is considered the most refined tea in Japan, imparts the jelly with a beautifully balanced blend of vegetal and umami notes. The subtle natural sweetness of the matcha is enhanced by a touch of sugar for the perfect not-too-sweet dessert.
Natural Attorait produces organic matcha which meets the rigorous and strict requirements set forth by JAS (Japanese Agricultural Standards), covering everything from cultivation to processing and bagging. This produces a higher quality matcha with a deep flavor you will savor in this bittersweet treat.
Producer: Maruai Foods
Prefecture: Tokyo
Ingredients: Dried daikon (Japanese radish), carrot, yuzu peel, pickling ingredients [soy sauce, malt syrup, sugar, rice fermentation seasoning, yuzu juice, rice vinegar, salt, yeast extract, ume (Japanese plum) vinegar] (includes wheat and soybeans)
Suggested uses: Enjoy as is! These pickles can be served as a side dish or in a bento. Try them served alongside grilled meats or tofu, or with scrambled eggs or an omelet. They also add zest to a sandwich. We recommend serving these pickles chilled.
Daikon and carrots are the base for these refreshing and crunchy “tsukemono”, or pickles. No meal in Japan is complete without a side of tsukemono! The tangy citrus flavor of both yuzu peel and juice perfectly enhances the mild natural sweetness of the daikon, while the pickling ingredients add a mellow acidity and subtle umami.
Maruai Foods is committed to making products grown domestically in Japan without any additives. They believe in the importance of food as the starting point to nurture the body and mind, and hope their foods will be the centerpiece of “food memories” that make you smile!
Yuzu Citrus Salad Dressing (プレミアムドレッシング ゆず)
Producer: Choko Shoyu
Prefecture: Nagasaki
Ingredients: Soy sauce (contains wheat and soybeans) (domestic), rapeseed oil, sugar, brewed vinegar, onion, yuzu juice, sesame, salt, starch, yeast extract, seafood extract
Dairy-free
Suggested use: Use as a dressing for salads (such as a caprese salad), on boiled vegetables, cold tofu or carpaccio.
Storage: Refrigerate after opening.
This salad dressing is a blend of two iconic Japanese flavors: yuzu citrus and umami-rich soy sauce. Made without chemical seasonings, fragrant yuzu juice from Kochi Prefecture is combined with whole soybean soy sauce, brewed vinegar, domestically produced onions and nutty sesame seeds to create a refreshing citrus dressing.
Choko Shoyu was established in 1941 by 29 local soy sauce producers as the first soy sauce cooperative in the industry. The group has carefully preserved traditional brewing techniques with a commitment to safety, quality, taste, and the United Nations’ SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). They are also a member of the Good Food Making Association - an organization that is re-examining food in pursuit of health and deliciousness in daily life. They believe that those who produce and sell food have a responsibility to preserve traditional and seasonal flavors while protecting the environment.
Black Sesame “Kokusen” (Sweet Cracker) (黒胡麻こくせん)
Producer: Utsuboya
Prefecture: Gifu
Ingredients: Roasted black sesame seeds (domestic), starch syrup, sugar, kinako (roasted soybean flour), soybeans
Kokusen is a sweet Japanese cracker made by kneading together roasted sesame seeds, starch syrup and soybean flour. A local specialty from the mountainous Hida region of Gifu, kokusen have been a beloved treat since the Edo period. Handmade in Takayama City by skilled craftsmen using centuries-old methods, these sweet crackers have a particularly fragrant roasted sesame flavor and aroma, and a delightful crispy texture.
A long-established “dagashi” (similar to penny candy) store, Utsuboya was founded in 1890. Specializing in Hida-style dagashi, which uses soybeans, sesame seeds, and peanuts, Utsuboya offers 30 different varieties of candy that are handmade using methods handed down over generations since the company’s founding. Featuring local flavors and ingredients, the company’s sweets are loved by children and adults alike.
Seafood jerky is a quintessential otsumami (snack served with alcohol) in Japan. This Black Pepper Teriyaki Saury Jerky from Hiramatsu Foods is made from domestically caught saury, a type of fatty fish known for its rich savory flavor, which is then combined with a traditional Japanese teriyaki sauce and a dash of black pepper for subtle spice. The resulting soft-style jerky offers the perfect combination of Japanese and Western flavors.
Using quality domestic ingredients and skills inherited over 100 years in business, Hiramatsu Foods is bringing traditional Japanese food culture to the world. Committed to taking the extra time to do things right, the company’s primary product, tsukudani (foods simmered in a sweet and savory sauce), takes three days to make. Only the best seasonings and techniques are used to create these traditional Japanese flavors.
