Carefully cultivated Budo Sansho, the Japanese pepper, is highly prized among first class chefs and spice specialists around the world in recent years.
Our company's spice was also well-received by the owner I head chef of El Bulli restaurant, Ferran Adria Acosta and is used by many Michelin-star restaurants such as El Celler de Can Roca in Spain and Epices Roellinger in Frence.
A good many famous Chocolatiers have wen prizes, using Budo Sansho, in various country contests around the world.
And in more recent times, more and more people from around the world are making the long trip to our quiet, picturesque country village to purchase our products.
A niche product sought out by world class chefs
So... Why does Budo Sansho have such a good reputation?
Kanja Farm's Budo Sansho 3 points:
Budo Sansho has been growing in the mountain ranges of Kishu, for thousands of years,
continually protected and cultivated by the local farming community.
The perfect climatic conditions for this geographical, sea level, soil quality and precipitation being the main factors of its continued successful cultivation.
The way natural Sansho has mutated into the Budo Sansho of today is even referred to as a work of a god, a miracle, so unique its electrifying flavor and large size.
The staff and local farmers paying good attention to the high quality of the product and its continued supply.
Infinite possibilities as a spice
One of the reasons that our Budo Sansho is very popular in the west as a new spice is not least because, currently we are easily able to fill our existing orders for it and distribution is small.
There is no comparison domestically with the interest in Budo Sansho overseas and demand for it there is steadily increasing, as was formally the case for black pepper.
It won't be long before many more people chefs, import suppliers, tourists come to our local area in Kishu in search of our high quality product.
Our aim is to bring back the confidence in the quality of Japanese goods through the food industry, by was of the subtle Japanese touch.
Current production site issues
As with most other rural areas in Japan, the aging of people working in the agricultural sector is also a problem here in Aridagawa.
The average age of a Budo Sansho farmer is 80!
Meanings there are not many younger farmers around to continue growing the business.
Basically this means that although Wakayama Prefecture makes up a 70% share of the Sansho production market in Japan, replanting to maintain the yield is not keeping up.
Our dream is that by cherishing the legacy left to us by our predecessors and working closely with our stunning, natural surroundings, we can create a sustainable farming society through the Budo Sansho industry here in our beautiful local area.
Won't you join us?!
