b'rediscovering travelFood Souvenirs from Japan TALK TO OUR EXPERTThidara Udomritkulthidara.u@hayesandjarvis.co.ukTaking home ingredients helps you recreate Japans 0208 106 2376unique flavours and aromas in your own kitchen. These fooditems make great gifts or souvenirsUMESHUUmeshu is a light, delicious wine made by soaking ume plums in white liquor. Some of the best umeshu is made in Japanese homes or served in izakayas and has only 10-15% alcohol content. Umeshu has no expiration date, and tastes better with age. SHICHIMI TOGARASHIThis seven-flavoured chilli spice mix can be sprinkled over noodles, grilled meats, tempura, and just about anything. Ingredients vary by region/maker, but the blend often includes red chilli pepper, sansho pepper, hemp, seaweed, sesame, Sichuan pepper, citrus peel etc. Its often sold near temples but also available at supermarkets.WASABIWasabi, or Japanese horseradish, is the pungent condiment that typically accompanies sushi and other Japanese dishes. Take home some of the best original Japanese wasabi from Daio Farmone of the largest wasabi farms in the country, at the foothills of the Japanese Alps near Matsumoto. MATCHA TEAThe town of Uji, located near Kyoto, is famous for matcha green tea. Here, tea makers have mastered the techniques and methods of cultivation to produce some of the best quality tea leaves in the world. Sample some matcha at local tea rooms and shops andtake some home with you.MISO PASTEMiso paste is a culinary staple in Japan. Packed with vitamins and flavour, miso is used for spreads and sauces as well as in stock to create miso soup. White (shiro miso) and red (aka miso) are the two most common varieties of miso, which you can find in supermarkets and stores across Japan.SAKESome of the best sake in Japan is from Saijo, one of the countrys finest sake-producing regions thanks to the pristine mountain water that feeds the area. You can choose your favourite during a sake tasting tour in Kamotsuru, Saijos largest brewery, and find a selection of paraphernalia, including porcelain sake cups. hayesandjarvis.co.uk/japan32 \x1a HAYES JARVIS'