Nihon Chomiryo Tabi
Yagenbori Shichimi Togarashi (やげん堀 七味唐辛子)
Stories about this bottle
The story behind it
Shichimi togarashi, the seven-spice blend, was invented in Yagenbori in Edo. In 1625 the first-generation owner, Tokuemon, took his cue from Chinese herbal medicine and blended 7 aromatics. The result is said to have been presented to the shogun, and it became one of Edo's signature products.
Grilled chili and raw chili, black sesame, dried citrus peel, sansho, poppy seed, and hemp seed. Yagenbori Nakajima Shoten still works from that blend of 400 years ago, and still mixes to each customer's taste at the counter in Asakusa.
One shake over soba is a piece of Edo carried forward. This red powder is among the oldest seasonings in Tokyo.
How to use it
On soba and udon of course, but also tonjiru, yakitori, and pickles. The blend leans toward sansho aroma, so it goes especially well with Japanese soups.