Aizu Mountain Salt

[A must-buy if found] The mystical seasoning 'Aizu Yama Salt' crystallized from the earth's mysteries and the pride of artisans

Did you know that exquisite 'salt' is being produced deep in the mountains of Urabandai, far from the sea? 'Aizu Yama Salt', made by boiling down the spring water from 'Oshioguchi Urabandai Onsen' that springs at the foot of Mount Bandai, has a prestigious history as the official salt of the Aizu domain and was even offered to the imperial family, making it a legendary salt known 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 dissolve due to the heat of Mount Bandai.

• Incredible time and effort: It is made through a process of carefully boiling the mineral-rich spring water in traditional kettles for several days.
• 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 pride of artisans.

■ 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 the 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.