Many supermarket tahinis are over-roasted, which gives them an unpleasant, bitter flavor. They are also too thick and hard to stir into a creamy blend. Soom's tahini has a full, nutty flavor as well as a pourable and well-balanced texture, made from single-origin white sesame seeds from northwestern Ethiopia that have an ideal oil-to-protein ratio.

Casablanca Market's preserved lemons have a bright, balanced flavor and they aren't overly salty or bitter like some brands. We like that they add a bold, piquant kick to dishes without being too sour, and their tender texture is perfect for chopping finely and incorporating into recipes.

The moHA! ginger grater has blades that are arranged in all directions for steady grating, as opposed to a one-directional rasp grater. But like with a wand-style rasp grater, moHA!'s cutting surface is made of sharp and durable precision-cut stainless steel. When you rotate the device, an integrated cleaning arm sweeps in a circular motion to scrape shavings off the blade, so all of the grated food ends up in your recipe, not stuck in crevices. A small compartment catches food shavings, for less mess and easier measuring; plus, the concave sides are comfortable to hold and allow you to keep a firm grip on the grater during use. The moHA! Ginger Grater has pieces that detach easily for cleaning, but the device stays together during use. When you're done using it, simply disassemble and toss it in the dishwasher.

Unlike grocery-store teriyaki sauces that include artificial preservatives or sweeteners, Bachan's uses only fresh, natural ingredients in its Original Japanese Barbecue Sauce. Authentic Japanese shoyu—soy sauce made with wheat—provides an umami flavor base, while cane sugar and mirin add the signature complementary sweetness. Bachan's also layers green onion, ginger and garlic, which add aromatic complexity and ground the sauce in earthy, savory notes. In a nod to Western barbecue sauce, the secret recipe also includes tomato paste, which adds a nuanced, natural fruitiness and thickens the sauce. Unlike grocery-store teriyaki sauces that include artificial preservatives or sweeteners, Bachan's uses only fresh, natural ingredients in its Original Japanese Barbecue Sauce. Authentic Japanese shoyu—soy sauce made with wheat—provides an umami flavor base, while cane sugar and mirin add the signature complementary sweetness. Bachan's also layers green onion, ginger and garlic, which add aromatic complexity and ground the sauce in earthy, savory notes. In a nod to Western barbecue sauce, the secret recipe also includes tomato paste, which adds a nuanced, natural fruitiness and thickens the sauce. Plus, this umami-packed sauce is now available gluten free.

We absolutely love this small-batch vinegar from French artisanal producer Huilerie Beaujolaise. With a bright and tangy vibrancy akin to tangerine, this vinegar almost tastes like a shrub, or drinking vinegar. Ubiquitous to Filipino cuisine, calamansi is a citrus hybrid between kumquat and mandarin orange.

Juicy, flavorful and wonderfully textured Yakami Orchards Yuzu Marmalade is made with fresh, local yuzu from a collective of family farms in Japan’s Miyazaki prefecture. Balanced out with honey and sugar, this yuzu marmalade is bright, tart and warmly sweet with every bite. Just by opening a jar of Yakami Orchards’ product, you’ll be able to smell the bright and subtly floral aroma of yuzu. We love the plentiful chunks of yuzu rind, which are thinly sliced and add texture without making the marmalade clumpy. The yuzu pieces contribute a pop of piney bitterness that is a pleasant counterbalance for the overall sweet spread.

Mutti Tomato Paste is tomato paste as it was originally intended. Traditionally, this ingredient was made by drying tomato sauce on wooden boards in the sun; likewise, Mutti's modern version has a sun-dried flavor and caramelized richness reminiscent of molasses. Yet the tomato paste is not overly sweet—as tomatoes cook, their amino acids break down, which produces savory umami compounds. And unlike most tubed tomato pastes which are double-concentrated, this version is triple-concentrated, so a little goes a long way. We far prefer it to other tomato pastes in tubes, not to mention canned varieties that inevitably have a metallic taste from reacting with acidic tomato juice.

Similar to red wine vinegar but slightly less sharp, Mutti's Tomato Vinegar has a sweet-savory balance and smooth quality reminiscent of balsamic, with an intense sun-dried tomato aroma. It's not too acidic but rather balanced by caramelized sweetness and an earthy umami depth. This complex vinegar enhances raw tomato recipes and can be used in simple applications. We like to drizzle some on caprese salads or toss it in pasta salad, with feta or goat cheese as a creamy counterpoint.

While most mayonnaise is made with vinegar, Hotaru Foods uses 100% yuzu juice as its acid of choice, which adds a bright, citrusy kick and subtle sweetness reminiscent of Kewpie mayonnaise, a Japanese favorite. We especially like to pair it with seafood, which doesn't need its usual squeeze of lemon thanks to the tart yuzu flavor.

Most ketchup is watered-down and overly sweet from corn syrup. Not so with Mutti's product, which has a full tomato taste because it's made from concentrated tomato paste instead of puree. The ketchup also has a wonderful balance of flavors: robust and savory with a touch of spice. We like that Mutti makes this condiment with wine vinegar, which adds dimension and offsets tomatoes' ripe sweetness.

Opinel's Brunch Knife might be the new favorite knife you never knew you needed: a breakfast knife that actually cuts. The blade is partially serrated to slice crusty toast and chewy sausages—it's not overly sharp, just keen enough to get the job done without a struggle. The 4.5-inch broad blade and rounded tip are very effective at scraping the bottom of jars and spreading butter and jam on toast. Choose between a natural beechwood or blood orange handle, both of which have sleek, classic designs that will match any table setting. To keep your knife in good condition, we recommend hand-washing and drying promptly.

Designed for steaming food, the Marna Piggy Steamer from Japan is a silicone lid that forms a tight seal over pots and containers, vents excess steam through its snout and is easy to lift by its ear-shaped handles. Use it for perfect stovetop steaming, splatter-free microwave cooking or even refrigerator storage in place of plastic wrap. It's more compact and flexible than metal pot lids and fits any vessel less than 8.5 inches in diameter, with the silicone locking in moisture for effective steaming; smartly designed holes in the pig snout act as vents to avoid built-up pressure. When you're done using it, you can throw the lid in a kitchen drawer for storage without worrying about finding a spot on the shelf.

• Diameter: 8.5 inches
• Materials: Silicone
• Use: Microwave-safe

The ThermaPen Mk4 is the best instant-read thermometer on the market, hands down. Each one features a cutting-edge thermocouple sensor that's built by hand; originally designed for industrial use, this type of sensor is not only faster and more accurate than any other brand but also longer-lasting. The ThermaPen is capable of measuring an incredible range of -58°F to 572°F, so it's not just useful for checking meat doneness but also for lower-temperature applications like baking and sous vide; readings are truly instant at just two seconds and accurate within 0.7°F. On top of that, this digital thermometer smartly designed so it's a pleasure to use, from the ergonomic shape to a backlit auto-rotating display, automatic sleep mode to preserve battery and foldable probe for safe storage.

Before he founded ThermoWorks, CEO Randy Owen developed high-precision thermometry tools in the sensor industry, quite literally setting national standards for temperature-measuring technology. Whether you use the company's digital kitchen thermometers for grilling, baking, making candy or even smoking your own meats, no other brand is as fast, accurate or high-quality.

This honey mustard from one of France's leading brands is a welcome change from the overly sweet supermarket varieties completely lacking in mustard character. Bornibus Honey Mustard has a touch of sweetness from honey but leans savory overall, with a deep, rich mustard flavor that's mild enough to be universally appealing, even for those who don't like spice—plus, we guarantee you'll love its incredibly smooth texture.

Mustard-lovers will appreciate the nose-clearing pungency of this Horseradish Mustard by historic French brand
Bornibus, which has a clear spice but isn't harsh since it's made with fresh (not powdered) mustard. Less metallic-tasting than jarred horseradish and more complex than most mustards, we like to think of this small-batch condiment as a rich, robust alternative to Dijon mustard with an added spicy accent.

• Net Weight: 250 grams
• Ingredients: Water, mustard seeds, spirit vinegar, horseradish (6%) (contains sulfites), salt, sugar, citric acid, canola oil, spices, potassium disulfite (as preservative)
• Place of Origin: France

With an exceptionally high protein content between 11 percent and 13 percent, Maine Grains' whole-wheat flour is produced in a stone mill, which generates less heat in order to preserve the heritage varietal's robust, aromatic flavor and nutritious compounds. 

Lighter than conventional whole-wheat flour but with a higher wheat kernel and wheat germ content than all-purpose flour, Maine Grains' organic heritage flour is sifted to remove some of the wheat bran, for a consistency that's more similar to all-purpose than other brands of whole-wheat flour.