As specialists in authentic Japanese ingredients, we're excited to introduce you to the world of Japanese spices. These versatile staples will elevate your cooking and add depth to countless Japanese dishes.
Whether you're a home chef or just beginning to explore Japanese cuisine, these spices are essential for creating delicious, authentic meals. Plus, we've added our favourite brand-new out-there spices, for the more experimental chefs.
Let's get into it!
Essential Japanese Spices
Japanese cuisine is known for its delicate balance of flavours, and spices play a crucial role in achieving this harmony. Here are some must-have Japanese spices that will transform your cooking.
Yellow Yuzu Kosho
Yellow yuzu kosho is a tangy, spicy traditional Japanese condiment made from yuzu citrus zest, chilli peppers, and salt. Kosho, or "pepper paste," is made by fermenting fresh yuzu zest with chilli peppers and salt.
Yellow yuzu kosho gets its vibrant colour from the combination of the fresh yuzu peel and the green of the chilli peppers. The complex flavour profile that adds brightness and depth to dishes.
Shichimi Spice with Mikan Peel
This special spice blend combines the Japanese seven-spice blend, known as shichimi or nanami, with the bright and citrusy flavour of mikan, a type of Japanese mandarin.
Shichimi - "shichi" (seven) "mi" (flavour), is a popular Japanese spice blend consisting of seven ingredients and is considered very good for your health.
This special mix of spices combines two ingredients that are produced locally in the Wakayama region, Arita mikan peel and sansho pepper, as well as red chilli pepper, black sesame seeds, poppy seeds, aonori seaweed and ginger for freshness.
Wasabi Label Togarashi Shichimi Spice Mix
Our shichimi togarashi spice mix promises to liven up your dishes instantly. Enjoy 7 Japanese spices in a traditional spice blend first created in 1625. Our spice combination delivers a warm heat that builds slowly rather than burning with an original spicy kick.
Our expertly crafted and refined powder offers a quick and easy way to take your dishes to the next level. Excellent sprinkled into soups, plain rice, udon noodles, fish & meat tartares or carpaccios.
Green Budo Sansho Berries
Cousins of Sichuan pepper, Sansho berries are known to be an excellent natural preservative for meat and fish. These berries are dried in the same way as pepper and they have a citrus aroma with a spiced pepper finish.
Yuzuki Green Yuzu Hot Sauce
This green chilli sauce is made from sweet yuzu and green jalapenos. Starting off citrussy, and ending with a gentle chilli heat. This sauce makes a wonderful marinade for meat and fish or adds a delicious tangy heat to a dressing or drizzled on top of rice and cous cous.
Black Garlic Shio Koji
Black garlic shio koji is a fermented seasoning made from black garlic and rice koji. It adds a sweet, umami-rich flavour to marinades, sauces, and dressings. Use it to enhance the depth of your grilled meats or vegetables.
Umami-So Miso Seasonings
Umami-so Miso Seasonings blend traditional miso paste with additional umami enhancers. These seasonings are perfect for adding complexity to soups, stews, and even salad dressings.
Hayakawa Miso BBQ Sauces
Hayakawa Miso BBQ Sauces combine the rich flavor of miso with the tangy sweetness of BBQ sauce. It's ideal for marinating meats, glazing vegetables, or as a dipping sauce for grilled foods. They are available in 3 different flavours: Miso, Shochu and Miso & Sesame.
Vegan Zen No Karanma Condiment
This vegan condiment blends green pepper and miso for a powerful umami punch. Use it as a spread, a marinade, or a seasoning to add a rich, savory flavour to any dish. It’s also great in a sandwich or with cheese.
Jabasco Chilli Sauce
Jabasco Chilli Sauce brings a spicy kick with a Japanese twist. Its balanced heat and umami make it a versatile addition to your spice collection, perfect for spicing up noodle soups, grilled meats, and dipping sauces.
Nori Tsukudani
Nori Tsukudani is a seaweed paste made from simmering nori in soy sauce and mirin. It’s commonly used as a topping for steamed rice, adding a savoury, slightly sweet flavour.
Enhancing Japanese Cuisine at Home
With these spices and new ingredients, you can easily recreate authentic Japanese flavours in your kitchen. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Marinating and Seasoning
Use miso paste, soy sauce and rice wine to marinate meats, fish, or tofu. These ingredients not only infuse your proteins with flavour but also help tenderise them, resulting in a more succulent dish.
Making Authentic Japanese Soups
Prepare a comforting bowl of miso soup using miso paste, dashi sachets, and a variety of vegetables or tofu. Enhance the flavour with a splash of sesame oil and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
Crafting Delicious Dipping Sauces
Create dipping sauces for sushi, tempura, or dumplings using soy sauce, rice vinegar and a touch of sesame oil. These sauces complement the flavours of raw fish and other Japanese delicacies beautifully.
Adding Flavour to Seafood Dishes
Elevate your seafood dishes with the rich flavours of Japanese spices. Use bonito flakes and soy sauce to season grilled fish, or incorporate miso paste into a seafood stew for a robust, umami-packed meal.
Perfecting Steamed Rice
Enhance steamed rice by seasoning it with a bit of rice vinegar or a sprinkle of furikake or sesame seeds. This simple addition can transform plain rice into a delicious accompaniment to any meal.
Buy authentic Japanese spices from The Wasabi Company
Japanese spices are the heart of Japanese cuisine, bringing unique flavours and aromas to your dishes.
At The Wasabi Company, we offer a wide range of authentic Japanese spices, from sesame seeds to rice vinegar, to help you create delicious and authentic meals at home.
Explore our collection of Japanese ingredients here and start your culinary adventure today.