NOTES FROM OISHII NIPPON
Explore the blog posts below for variety information, recipes, grower profiles, culture notes, and more.
Oishii Nippon Project Blog
Are Negi the same as Leeks?
While related, Negi is a different species from its Allium cousins – Allium fistulosum is characterized by its non-bulbing nature and hollow green tops.
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Fruit Logistica 2023 – Thank you, Berlin!
We were so grateful to attend this year's Fruit Logistica event at Messe Berlin, and share the story of the Oishii Ni...
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Setsubun | 節分: the start of spring
According to the groundhog, we still have a few more weeks of winter left, but according to the lunar calendar, February 3rd marks the end of winter. This day is known as Setsubun | 節分, translated as "seasonal division".
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Happy Lunar New Year, Year of the Usagi
The above is part of a 3-panel woodblock work by Utagawa Kunisada c. 1850, called "Actors as Lion Dancers".
With th...
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How does "hilling" work in Negi production?
For the characteristic long white stalk – the blanched portion is where the subtle sweet allium flavor is – Negi must be "hilled", sort of like you would when growing potatoes. Soil is pushed to cover the plants so only the green tip is exposed, making the plants elongate further to reach for sunlight. Read on to learn more about how Negi is hilled in Japan.
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Seven Greens Porridge | Nanakusa Gayu | 七草粥
Seven Greens Porridge | Nanakusa Gayu | 七草粥:Stemming from Chinese tradition, January 7th is known as 人日の節句 (Jinjitsu no Sekku) or 七草の節句 (Nanakusa no Sekku) in Japan, when this healthful rice porridge is eaten in celebration and to recover from the New Year's festivities.
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Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Learn about Osechi, or Japanese New Year's dishes and their hopeful symbolic meanings.
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Zuccuri Squash Canapés
These delectable Zuccuri Squash Canapés are from student-Chef team Stephanie Simoulis, Emilia Young, Thomas Trip, and...
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The end of the year in Japan: O-souji | 大掃除
The end of the year in Japan means... 大掃除｜O-souji (big cleaning!)
Did you know that this tradition dates back centu...
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Winter Solstice / 冬至
In Japan, the Winter Solstice, also known as the shortest day of the year, is celebrated as a symbol of harmony and ...
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Summer Festival Farmers Market with Suzuki Farm and Sunrise Mart
We are so excited to collaborate with Sunrise Mart and Suzuki Farm to offer Japanese vegetables at the Summer Festival at Japan Village this year. This is the second annual Summer Festival – last year's event brought over 2000 people to the courtyard to enjoy performances, games, food and much more.
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Shishimai / Shishito FAQ
How did Shishito peppers become so popular? Why are they spicy? Why are they called "Shishitos"? Are they the same as Padrons?
Shishitos have become very popular in the United States, and have raised a lot of questions about their origins, name, pungency, popularity, and beyond. Here is a Shishimai & Shishito pepper FAQ to offer some (certainly not all!) of the answers to questions we often receive.
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