Savoring the Rare Seasonal Hana Sansho with Kyoto Beef and Eel: Wakuden Unveils Early Summer Collection

Hana Sansho is a seasonal blessing available only for a very short time in early summer. These are soft buds harvested just before they bloom, offering a delicate taste and aroma.

Wakuden introduces this seasonal specialty in three distinct ways: a hot pot dish with beef, a takikomi-gohan (seasoned rice) with eel and Tango rice, and a 'jan-ni' (simmered in soy sauce) that serves as an appetizer or rice accompaniment. We deliver the fleeting scent of early summer that rises gently above your table.

Exquisite Hana Sansho Items Captured in a Fleeting Moment Sansho is an essential ingredient in Japanese cuisine, adding fragrance and a lingering aftertaste. Among its varieties, Hana Sansho is a rare find, consisting of soft buds picked right before flowering. Its gentle aroma and mild spiciness, distinct from the more common peppercorn variety, bring delicate depth to early summer dishes.

Kyoto Beef Paired with the Aroma of Hana Sansho 'Kyo no Himezutsumi: Hana Sansho and Kyoto Beef Hot Pot' (21,600 yen, tax incl.) is a special shabu-shabu set. The bitter scent of watercress, the texture of wood ear mushrooms, and the mild heat of Hana Sansho enhance the rich umami of high-quality Kyoto beef.

Seasonal Rice to Savor with Tango Rice 'Hana Sansho and Eel Takikomi-Gohan' (17,280 yen, tax incl.) combines eel and Hana Sansho with Tango Rice from Wakuden's hometown in Kyotango, Kyoto. Adding Hana Sansho as a final touch at home creates a rising steam filled with the scent of early summer, making it an ideal gift.

Simmered Delicacies for Appetizers or Rice 'Hana Sansho and Eel Jan-ni' (8,640 yen, tax incl.) features well-fattened eel simmered slowly with Hana Sansho. The gentle heat and fragrance tighten the eel's umami, creating a deep flavor suitable as a side dish for sake or steamed rice.

Wakuden's official online shop also features a 'Enjoying Sansho' collection, showcasing various expressions of sansho unique to the brand, such as young sansho with whitebait and sansho-infused oil.