Bando Farm Yuzu Salt
A close cousin of the fragrant meyer lemon, yuzu balances punchy citrus with floral freshness. While many flavored salts go too easy on the aromatics, this one makes a true statement—likely because it incorporates the peel, juice and pulp of the fruit and not just the rind like your standard citrus salt. Shaved into airy flakes that melt on the tongue like snowflakes, this elegant salt yields a lightness and delicate crunch that’s not present in denser grains. It’s laced with a pale yellow powder, a clear visual of its vibrant, mild-sour taste. The flavor is unquestionably yuzu: complex and bright, not mellowing into a vague citrusy taste like other similar products, but the even salt itself brings its own nuanced taste to the table. Mined from a 420 million year old salt dome, it offers earthy mineral and peppery notes. Infinitely sprinklable, this seasoning distills the zest and punch or fresh yuzu into a shelf-stable format. Sprinkle atop deep fried dishes like French fries or our Japanese Fried Chicken to cut the richness, or incorporate into a rub for grilled meats to balance the well-browned savoriness with citrus. Shake into soups or into side dishes like our Sichuan Dry-Fried Cauliflower. And if it’s after 5 o’clock, consider using the salt to rim our Chili-Pineapple Margarita.
Hakata Salt Moshio Saredoshio (Japanese Seaweed Salt)
Made from seawater and seaweed straight from the Seto Inland Sea, Hakata Salt’s Moshio “Saredoshio,” or Japanese seaweed salt, brings a distinct complexity that enhances the flavor of typical sea salt. It’s made using a traditional method, in which Hondawara variety seaweed is soaked in seawater, naturally thickened in salt fields under the sun, then boiled down into a fine, easily dissolvable salt. The minimal yet time-intensive process helps preserve each complex mineral, adding even more impact to the flavor of what is dried and harvested off of the seaweed. The salt imparts a combination of delicate bitterness and a punch of briny umami that clings to food nicely; use it to finish grilled fish, karaage (Japanese fried chicken), tofu and carpaccio, or add it to soup, pickles and sushi. Mix into dressings and marinades to boost savoriness, or sprinkle it over ice cream, cookies or muffins if you’re feeling extra adventurous.