Aizu Mountain Salt

[Must Buy If Found] The mystical seasoning crystallized from the earth's mysteries and the artisans' pride, "Aizu Mountain Salt"

Did you know that exquisite "salt" is being produced deep in the mountains of Urabandai, far from the sea? "Aizu Mountain Salt," made by evaporating the spring water from the "Oshioburabandai Onsen" that springs at the foot of Mount Bandai, has a prestigious history as it was once valued as the official salt of the Aizu domain and was also offered to the imperial family, making it a salt known only to those in the know.

■ Can salt be made from mountain hot springs? The romantic background of the Earth

The secret lies in the dynamic romance of the Earth, where seawater components trapped in geological layers since ancient times are dissolved by the heat of Mount Bandai.

• Incredible effort: It is made through a process of slowly evaporating the mineral-rich spring water over several days in a traditional kettle.
• Rare extraction quantity: Only about 1 kilogram of salt can be extracted from 100 liters of hot spring water. It is truly a rare product crystallized from the artisans' pride.

■ Overwhelmingly scarce! The "sweet salt" that dramatically changes the taste of dishes

Compared to seawater salt, it has no sharpness, and the biggest feature is the mild "sweetness" felt behind the saltiness.

• Bringing out the umami of ingredients: Just a little on tempura or rice balls explosively enhances the natural umami of the ingredients.
• Buy immediately if found: Since the production method is entirely manual, the production volume is extremely low, and it is always in short supply even locally. If you see it in stores, the rule is to grab it without hesitation.