Kin-Iwai Pure Sesame Oil Kinkuchi (金岩井純正胡麻油 金口)

The story behind it

Iwai no Gomaabura began in 1857, 2 years before the port of Yokohama opened. For nearly 170 years since, it has grown up with the port town, and it is now one of Japan's leading oil houses.

Its flagship, Kinkuchi, is an amber oil made from lightly roasted sesame that the makers press with care. The Iwai approach is not to roast deep for a strong aroma but to stop at something clean and refined. Because it does not fight the ingredients, tempura cooks have kept choosing it as their frying oil.

This is a different side of Yokohama's food history from the bustle of Chinatown. The aroma behind Edo-style tempura starts here.