Dried vegetables– category –

Kiriboshi daikon (dried shredded radish) is essential to simmered dishes. In fact, you can make it easily at home simply by cutting and drying daikon. Homemade versions have a richer sweetness and no additives to worry about. Still, many people hesitate over problems like "it won't dry properly," "I'm worried about mold," or "I don't know how to rehydrate or store it." In this article, we explain...

Dried Shishigatani kabocha is a commercial ingredient made from the Kyoto heirloom vegetable "Shishigatani kabocha." Shishigatani kabocha is a Japanese kabocha of the genus Cucurbita in the gourd family, prized for its distinctive gourd-like shape pinched at top and bottom, and its higher-moisture, light flavor. Agriture...

Dried Horikawa gobo is a commercial ingredient made from the Kyoto heirloom vegetable "Horikawa gobo." Horikawa gobo is a large burdock that swells to 6–9 cm thick and around 50 cm long, with a hollow center (su-iri); it has soft flesh and a distinctive fragrance. This thick, hollow shape and the soft...

Dried Shogoin kabu is a commercial dried ingredient made from the Kyoto heirloom vegetable "Shogoin kabu." Shogoin kabu is one of Japan's largest round turnips, reaching 15–20 cm in diameter, prized for its white, smooth skin, dense yet soft flesh, and strong sweetness. Agriture handles contract drying of client-supplied raw materials...

Red shiso left over from making umeboshi, or a huge harvest from your home garden—are you unsure how to use it? Red shiso can be used in a wide range of ways, not only for juice and yukari but also in salads, pasta, and preserved foods. In this article, we cover everything from prepping red shiso to the classic red shiso juice and syrup...

You put the ooba (green shiso) you bought in the fridge, only to find it turned black within a few days—many people have had this experience. Strongly aromatic ooba is vulnerable to both drying out and excess moisture, and if stored without any care, its original flavor fades almost instantly. In this article, we cover refrigerating, freezing...

Dried hibiscus is an edible flower ingredient made by drying the calyx of roselle (scientific name Hibiscus sabdariffa) in the mallow family. It is a different plant from ornamental hibiscus, and the raw material is the red calyx that thickens and swells after flowering. Prized for its vivid red color and clean acidity...

Dried calendula is a commercial ingredient made from the petals of the annual "calendula (scientific name Calendula officinalis)" in the daisy family. It is characterized by vivid orange-to-yellow petals, whose coloring is locked in through low-temperature drying. Also called "pot marigold," it is used for cooking...

Dried karaki is a commercial ingredient made by drying the leaves or bark of the evergreen tree "karaki (a relative of Okinawa cinnamon and Chinese cinnamon)" in the laurel family. Karaki is an aromatic wood in the cinnamon family, with a sweet, soft cinnamon-like aroma, yet not as intensely stimulating as a cinnamon stick...

Dried cardamom is a commercial spice ingredient made by drying the fruit (pods) and seeds of a plant in the ginger family. Prized for its sweet, refreshing, refined aroma, that aroma is locked inside the pod through low-temperature drying. Agriture also offers cardamom powder made by finely powdering the same cardamom...

Dried lavender is a commercial ingredient made by processing the flower spikes of the herb "lavender" in the mint family through low-temperature drying. Prized for the look of small purple flowers strung in spikes and lavender's distinctive refreshing fragrance, it tends to retain its aroma and purple color even when dried. Agriture also offers the same...

Dried chamomile is a commercial ingredient made from the flowers of the herb "chamomile" in the daisy family. The contrast between the white petals and yellow center is charming, and it has a sweet, refreshing aroma reminiscent of apple; that coloring and aroma are locked in through low-temperature drying. Agriture also offers the same cha...

Dried elderflower is a commercial ingredient made from the small flowers that bloom on elder (European elder) in the honeysuckle family. Prized for a sweet, gorgeous aroma reminiscent of muscat, it has long been enjoyed in drinks and sweets in Europe. Agriture also offers the same el...

Dried cherry blossom is an edible flower and dried flower ingredient made from the flowers of the cherry (genus Prunus) in the rose family. The flowers, salted and then dried, carry cherry blossom's distinctive soft fragrance and pale pink color, arranged into a form that is easy to handle when dried. Agriture also offers cherry-blossom powder made by powdering the flowers...

Dried clove is a spice made by drying the unopened flower buds of the clove tree in the myrtle family. Also called "choji," it is characterized by its distinctive nail-like shape and sweet, rich aroma; that aroma and flavor are locked in through low-temperature drying. Agriture also offers the same clove...

Dried osmanthus is a commercial ingredient made from the small autumn-blooming flowers "kinmokusei (fragrant orange-colored osmanthus)" of the genus Osmanthus in the olive family, kept as raw material with the flower shape and aroma intact. It is characterized by small orange flowers gathered in clusters that give off a sweet, rich fragrance; that color and aroma are locked in through low-temperature drying. Agriture...

Dried lemongrass is a commercial ingredient made by drying the herb "lemongrass" of the genus Cymbopogon in the grass family. Prized for a refreshing aroma reminiscent of lemon, it is finished by low-temperature drying to preserve that aroma as much as possible. Agriture also offers the same lemongrass finely powdered...

Dried tamogitake is a commercial dried ingredient made from the edible mushroom "tamogitake," characterized by its vivid yellow color. Known as a mushroom that gives off rich umami and stock flavor, that flavor is locked in through low-temperature drying. Agriture offers it sliced, crushed, or as powder depending on the use...

Dried Benihoshi mizuna is a commercial ingredient made from "Benihoshi," a mizuna variety that colors red-purple. Unlike ordinary green mizuna, it is characterized by vivid red-purple running from the leaf stalks to the leaf tips; that coloring is locked in through low-temperature drying. Agriture also offers the same Benihoshi mizuna finely powdered...

Dried ooba is a commercial ingredient made from the leaves of green shiso (ooba). Prized for its vivid green and the refreshing aroma typical of shiso in the mint family, that color and aroma are locked in through low-temperature drying. Agriture also runs, in parallel, ooba powder (made to order) that finely powders the same green shiso...

Dried green onion is a commercial ingredient made mainly from the green leaf portion of leaf onion (banno-negi type), cut into rings. Whereas white negi (nebuka-negi) is eaten for its white blanched part, green onion is a negi used with its green leaves as-is for garnish and color; its vivid green and negi-like aroma are captured by low-temperature...

Dried wariboshi daikon is a dry ingredient thicker than kiriboshi daikon, made by splitting daikon lengthwise and drying it. Unlike kiriboshi daikon, which is julienned, it is split lengthwise before being exposed to the sun, so a firm bite and volume remain well when rehydrated; that texture is stabilized through low-temperature drying...

Dried mulberry leaf is a commercial material made from the leaves of the mulberry tree (family Moraceae). Long cultivated as food for silkworms, mulberry leaves have been a familiar ingredient for mulberry leaf tea and green vegetable drinks, and their vivid green color and rustic flavor are sealed in through low-temperature drying. At Agriture, from the same mulberry leaf...

Dried leek flakes are a commercial material made by turning the Western leek (leek/porri) into flake form. They have little of the strong pungency or bite of Japanese long onion; when heated, they develop a gentle sweetness and a mellow body, and that flavor is sealed in through low-temperature drying. Agr...

Dried corn is a commercial material made from the kernels of sweet corn (family Poaceae). The corn's natural sweetness and the color of its yellow kernels are sealed in as they are through low-temperature drying. At Agriture, from the same sweet corn, corn powder finely milled (made to order...

Dried sansho is a commercial material made from sansho (genus Zanthoxylum, family Rutaceae). It is characterized by a sharp pungency, a tingling that lingers on the tongue, and a fresh, citrus-like aroma; the pungency and tingling come from sanshool, a compound contained in the pericarp. At Agriture...

Dried shima pumpkin is a commercial material made from shima pumpkin, a native pumpkin variety long grown in Okinawa. In Okinawa it is also called nankwa or chinkwa in dialect, and it is classified among the Japanese pumpkin group. Its flesh is high in moisture and sticky in texture, with restrained sweetness yet...

Dried island chili is a commercial material made by turning shima togarashi—the fiercely hot chili that represents Okinawa's island vegetables—into whole form. A small fruit of the bird's-eye chili type, it is characterized by an intense heat said to surpass that of takanotsume and Tabasco. At Agriture...

Dried kintoki carrot is a commercial material made by cutting the Eastern-type carrot "kintoki carrot (Kyoto carrot)" into thin strips. Compared with common Western carrots, it is characterized by a more vivid crimson color and a gentle sweetness, and that color and flavor are sealed in through low-temperature drying. At Agriture, from the same kintoki carrot finely milled...

Dried goya is a commercial material made by turning goya (bitter melon), Okinawa's signature summer vegetable, into ring-cut form. The flesh, with seeds and pith removed, is finished by low-temperature drying while preserving its characteristic bitterness and the green color of the skin. At Agriture, from the same goya finely milled goya...

When people hear "yakuzen ingredients," many may picture imported dried goods bought at a Chinese-ingredient store, such as jujube and goji berries. Yet many yakuzen ingredients can in fact be assembled from familiar domestically grown vegetables and dried goods. The image that "you cannot start without ordering something special" is...

Do you ever find yourself unsure how to use sansho beyond eel, or wondering "what dishes go with green sansho or kinome?" Sansho suits different dishes depending on its form—powder, berry, or leaf—and once you know how to use it, you can bring its refreshing aroma to everything from Japanese cuisine to meat and fish dishes and pasta. On this page...

The source of the tongue-numbing kick in mapo tofu and dan dan noodles is huajiao. It looks a lot like Japanese sansho, so many people wonder "are sansho and huajiao the same?" or "can I substitute one for the other?" In fact, while they're in the same family, their aroma, numbing tingle, and culinary role differ greatly...

Fresh green sansho, which appears in early summer, is prized for its tingly numbness and refreshing aroma. But once you buy it, prepping comes first, and many people are unsure—"what do I do with the stems?", "how long do I boil it to remove the bitterness?", "how do I store it so it keeps for a year?" On this page, we cover prepping green sansho...

You bought a lot of mushrooms while they were cheap, or you can't use up mushrooms you were given—that's when "drying" comes in handy. Drying mushrooms makes them keep longer and deepens their umami and stock flavor. On the other hand, questions like "sun or oven, which is better?", "I'm worried about mold," and "how long until they're fully dried?"...

Sansho is essential to eel, mapo tofu, and chirimen sansho. But even under the single name "sansho," it comes in various forms—green sansho, powdered sansho, and kinome—and people often wonder "what's the difference between green sansho and powdered sansho?" or "is it different from huajiao?" It's a spice that represents Japan, defined by its aroma and numbing tingle...

Tamogitake, sometimes called a "phantom mushroom" for its vivid yellow color and pleasant aroma. It's a mushroom long enjoyed in places like Hokkaido, and used in miso soup or takikomi gohan, it offers deep umami and stock flavor. On the other hand, questions come up—"how do I prep it?", "what's a classic way to eat it?", "is dried tamogitake..."

Dried maitake adds aroma and umami to takikomi gohan and miso soup. It keeps longer than fresh maitake, and even a small amount deepens a dish's flavor considerably. On the other hand, situations often leave people unsure—"should I rehydrate it?", "the soaking liquid turns dark—is that okay?", "can I make tempura with it?"—it's that kind of ingredient...

Ichimi togarashi, sprinkled over udon and soups. When it comes time to choose, people often wonder "what's the difference between ichimi and shichimi?" and "which should I use?" They look and are used similarly, but there's a clear difference in their ingredients and roles. On this page, we cover what ichimi togarashi is...

Dried shiitake supports the deep umami of simmered dishes, takikomi gohan, and miso soup. It's a handy dry good to keep on hand, but many situations leave people unsure—"what's the right way to rehydrate it?", "can the soaking liquid be used as dashi?", "how long is the best-before date?" On this page, we cover dried shiitake...

Dried chili, made by drying red chili peppers, keeps well and lets you enjoy heat and aroma year-round. But when you actually go to handle it, questions often come up—"how do I make it at home?", "do I rehydrate it before use?", "how long does it keep?" On this page, we cover dried chili...

We explain how to use and rehydrate dried mushrooms, covering the characteristics of each type such as shiitake, maitake, and enoki, when to rehydrate in water versus simmer them directly, uses in miso soup and takikomi gohan, and storage methods.

We explain how to rehydrate and eat dried kikurage (wood ear mushroom), covering rehydration in water or hot water, the tip of always heating it to prevent food poisoning, popular recipes like stir-fries, soups, and harusame, and storage methods.

Takanotsume, habanero, shishito, Manganji togarashi. Even under the single name "chili," the lineup is very wide, ranging from hot to not hot at all, and people often wonder "what variety is this?" or "are takanotsume and chili the same?" On this page, we cover the types of chili—Japanese...

We explain how to make and choose vegetable furikake, covering an easy homemade recipe using dried vegetables or leftover vegetables, salt-free and additive-free ideas that are easy for children to eat, and how to read the ingredients on store-bought products—tips for a furikake packed with vegetables that tastes good too.

Many people want to buy dried mugwort for yomogi mochi, mugwort tea, or yomogi steam therapy but are unsure “where it’s sold” or “which one to choose.” Dried mugwort is hard to find on supermarket shelves, so buying it online or at specialty shops is the basic route. In this article, in Kyoto...

Yomogi mochi (kusa mochi), a classic spring Japanese sweet. Fresh mugwort is in season only in spring, but with dried mugwort you can make yomogi mochi easily any time of year. Since it’s pre-treated and the harshness has been removed, you just rehydrate it and mix it into the dough. In this article, in Kyoto, handling the processing of dried vegetables...

We explain how to use dried mugwort—from rehydrating and amounts, to popular recipes such as kusa mochi and yomogi dumplings, mugwort tea and mugwort baths, storage methods and best-before dates, and how to choose without going wrong. A Kyoto dried vegetable manufacturer summarizes tips for using up domestic, low-temperature-dried mugwort without waste, at home or commercially.

Dried maca is a commercial ingredient made from the functional plant maca (scientific name: Lepidium meyenii) in the mustard family, in two forms: julienned root/chips and coarsely crushed (cut) leaves. Known as native to the high Andes of Peru, maca cultivation has spread domestically as well, and it is rich in amino acids, iron, zinc, calci...

Dried eggplant is a commercial material made from this staple summer-to-autumn table vegetable in two forms, slice and dice. The purple color of the eggplant's skin and the texture of flesh that turns tender and melting when heated are sealed in through low-temperature drying. At Agriture, we run it in tandem with eggplant powder made from the same eggplant finely milled...