This is the main store of Nanami Togarashi, a long-established shop in Asakusa's Shin-Nakamise Street. Although I sometimes use the Nanami Togarashi from Nagano or Kyoto, the one I always use at home is from here. I ran out of stock at home, so I visited the shop while in Asakusa. You can buy this Nanami Togarashi at fancy supermarkets, but I prefer to buy it at the actual store where they mix it on the spot. This time, I bought two special blends: "Ookara" with extra roasted red pepper for 540 yen each. Roasting the red pepper reduces the spiciness while increasing the fragrance. The "Sour Spicy" is a limited edition item that is even spicier than the "Ookara". I used to always buy the "Ookara" with extra sansho pepper, but due to a shortage of sansho pepper, there is now an additional charge for it, so I skipped it this time. I used it for grilled chicken, grilled pork, udon, and miso soup at home, and the spiciness and fragrance were just right. Compared to Zenkoji's Nanami Togarashi, it seems to have a higher content of ingredients other than red pepper. However, although the "Ookara" with extra roasted red pepper and the "Sour Spicy" are delicious, they cannot beat the "Ookara" with extra sansho pepper. When I checked the shop's website later, I found out that the offering of the special blend "Sansho Pepper" has been suspended since August this year. The uncertain weather and a decrease in the number of producers have caused poor harvests in the past 2-3 years. Hopefully, we can expect a bountiful harvest next season.

Metro Doori Store has stopped offering special blends. Despite the scorching heat, I made my way through the crowds from Asakusa Station to the main store today. (I'm sweating a lot. (-_-;)) I ordered "extra spicy with lots of dried tangerine peel" and waited as they prepared it. The aroma is so delightful. I can't wait to open it at home. I will definitely visit again.

I must say, what a magnificent homage! (laughs) But really, the title says it all. This place, "Yagenbori Nanami Togarashi Honpo Shin-Nakamise Main Store," is a holy land for those who love shichimi (seven spice blend). My friend, who is a huge shichimi fan, was thrilled to visit this place during our Asakusa tour. She is quite the social butterfly and managed to charm not only the staff but also the other customers in line (even though she was sober! I'm usually shy around strangers!!). She had the staff create a special blend just for her, and she was absolutely delighted with it. Watching her, I couldn't help but feel happy too! By the way, I got a set of cans as a souvenir for my evening part-time job. And to wrap up our Asakusa tour, we visited this special place filled with memories.

Seven spice is made with red pepper, roasted red pepper, black sesame seeds, ground sansho pepper, dried tangerine peel, hemp seeds, and poppy seeds. I usually request a blend with a generous amount of sansho pepper for a spicy kick, but this time I chose the medium and hot varieties that are pre-packaged as a gift for a friend. Everyone has different preferences when it comes to color and fragrance. I will continue to use this product for a long time.

On this day of the weekend, I had some errands to run in the Ueno area. Since the plum blossoms were in full bloom, I decided to extend my walk to Yushima Tenjin Shrine. They were having a plum blossom festival in the shrine grounds. The plum blossoms here seemed even more beautiful than those at the local Ikegami Plum Garden or Ume Yashiki. There were also many stalls set up for a festival, and among them, I found "Yagenbori" chili peppers. I was planning to visit Asakusa later, so I thought it was a lucky find. I ordered one with extra Sansho pepper. When I mentioned that I wouldn't need to go to Asakusa now, the shop owner told me that they were not related to the Yagenbori Nakajima Shoten in Asakusa. I couldn't cancel my order, so I bought the chili peppers anyway. Later, as planned, I visited the Nakajima Shoten store on Shin-Nakamise Street in Asakusa. They had resumed mixing the chili peppers in front of customers after a temporary closure due to COVID-19. I purchased my favorite spicy Sansho pepper blend for 648 yen (tax included) and headed home. When I compared the two chili peppers at home, the difference was clear. The flavor, spiciness, and freshness were completely different. For udon and yakitori, I definitely prefer the Nakajima Shoten chili peppers. Even compared to Zenkoji's, I personally like this one better. Upon checking Nakajima Shoten's website again, it seems that they do participate in department store events, but they do not have stalls at festivals. There are some posts online that confuse the two, so please be careful when using them.

Ordered the seven-spice chili with a bit more spice and extra sansho pepper. Also bought some sansho pepper and medium-spicy chili (in a gourd container). Sprinkled it on warm soba noodles and grilled chicken. The taste, aroma, spiciness - it's way better than store-bought chili. Can't wait to try it on eel with extra sansho pepper! So delicious!

I visited this long-established store that I've always admired, known for its variety of seasonings. It was my first time visiting, and the store was founded in the second year of Kan'ei (1625), so it's been around for 397 years! Amazing, right? On this day, I decided to go all out and got a customized gourd-shaped container. I asked for the hemp seeds to be removed and added extra sansho pepper and dried tangerine peel. The extra sansho pepper cost an additional 200 yen, I think. The staff explained everything to me very politely and blended the seasonings for me. Thank you. I might have misunderstood, but I believe I received a loyalty card (which I may have misplaced, haha). I'm using the cute mini tote bag they gave me. I'll definitely come back again.

I came here because the shop I always used to buy from closed down. It seems to be one of Japan's top three shichimi stores. I purchased a pre-packaged item since it was my first time here. They also offer custom blends based on your preferences. I'll look forward to trying that next time. When I got home and tried it, the sansho pepper has a strong presence, which is actually quite nice. Next time, I'll ask for a blend with less sansho pepper, but also one with a strong sansho pepper blend.

The flavor is amazing! And for only 540 yen, it's cheap. The shichimi I had been eating before was not real shichimi! I heard you can even blend your own mix to suit your taste, so I want to try that next time. It seems that Yagenbori's shichimi is only sold in stores, so I definitely want to buy some when I come to Asakusa.

When I go to Asakusa, I always make sure to visit the original store of the famous seven-spice blend "Yagenbori," which has been around since the Edo period. It's been over a year since I last visited the "Metro Street store" in October last year, so I'm back for a visit! The "Powdered Sansho Pepper" for 756 yen is my favorite, I even order it online because I love it so much. It has a much higher level of numbing sensation compared to the mainstream brands of Sansho pepper you find in supermarkets. It's a must-have for Sansho pepper lovers like me! It makes me crave for Mapo tofu with a generous sprinkle of Sansho pepper (*≧ω≦*). I remember it used to be 540 yen per bag until last year... they have raised the price quite a bit, but I still buy it because I love it.

When you arrive at Asakusa Station, head straight to Yagenbori first. Don't say you'll stop by on your way back, or the shops might close! (*'ω'*)∽∽∽∽∽∽∽∽∽∽∽∽∽∽∽ Yagenbori [Varieties of Shichimi] ~ 27 Sep, 2021 "Red pepper, roasted red pepper, poppy seeds, hemp seeds, ground sansho pepper, black sesame seeds, dried citrus peel. Shichimi chili pepper originally has medicinal effects from Chinese medicine, and each of these seven ingredients has its own meaning. The balance of taste also changes depending on the blend. There is a page on Yagenbori's website about "Shichimi" (it's useful, so I should learn more). However, taste and texture are selfish things, and I'm not a fan of that crunchy element. So this time, in addition to requesting a blend with plenty of sansho pepper as usual, I asked to exclude the crunchy element. (I might be seen as thinking too much by the staff, but they will adjust it without any problem) Let's try to guess which of the seven ingredients the crunchy element is. Please quietly let me know. (Correct answers will receive a special blend of expired unopened Shichimi) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The topic suddenly changed to "Shiokonbu" (seasoned kelp), which I found! As a lover of Tsukudani from Tsukudajima, I immediately bought it. The taste is rich in soy sauce (saltiness), but it seems to go well with ochazuke. It's also good as a snack with alcohol. Highly recommended!♪

Established in 1625, this is the main store of a long-standing seven-spice chili pepper shop located near the western end of Asakusa's Shin-Nakamise Street. I had run out of this chili pepper and had been using a different one for a while, but the scent just wasn't the same. I decided to visit Asakusa to stock up. Due to the pandemic, the blending sales at the other Metro store in Asakusa have been suspended. Even this shop doesn't have live demonstrations at the storefront, but if you tell them your preference, they will blend it for you in a separate room at the back. It's surprising to see how far-reaching the impact has been. Anyway, as usual, I requested a blend of "extra spicy" with plenty of sansho pepper, two bags. While waiting for it to be ready, I looked at the products on display and found a seven-spice labeled "refreshing spicy." When I asked the staff, I was told it's a limited edition product even spicier than "extra spicy." So, I decided to get two bags of "extra spicy (plenty of sansho pepper)" and one bag of "refreshing spicy" to take home. When I opened the "extra spicy" at home, the scent was indeed different. It's fresher compared to the same product sold by major manufacturers or even at places like Kitano Ace. And the "refreshing spicy" lived up to its name, with a refreshing spiciness. I used it for grilled chicken and simmered dishes, and it had a delightful taste perfect for summer. I wonder if they can blend "refreshing spicy" with plenty of sansho pepper. I'll have to check it out next time.

I went to Asakusa to buy some red pepper. I used to think that the spicier, the better when it comes to red pepper, but after trying a delicious shichimi spice blend, I realized that good seasoning can really enhance the flavor of a meal. So, I decided to invest a bit more in quality seasonings. This shop is quite famous and they can mix the spices for you in the store, but unfortunately, they are currently only doing the mixing at their main store and not in front of customers. So, I ended up buying a popular pre-made product. When I opened it at home, I could smell the well-balanced mix of various spices. I sprinkled it on the eggplant dish I made the day before, and it elevated the flavor beautifully. It cost 540 yen for 27g, which may seem a bit pricey compared to the average price of 100 yen for 15g in stores, but considering the cost-effectiveness, it's definitely worth it to buy a better quality product. The fact that they don't mix the spices in front of you slightly lowered the rating for me, but I would love to visit this shop again once the COVID situation settles down. Thank you for the delicious meal! 🌟

People have started calling me "old man" for some reason... I'm the My Spice here. Yagenbori's shichimi togarashi. Over the counter, the mother blends the shichimi togarashi to my liking. I prefer mine with a lot of sansho pepper. The shichimi here has a strong aroma. It adds a nice touch to various dishes. Thank you always ^_^

The other day, I bought grilled conger eel at the supermarket. When I was about to eat it, I realized something was missing! Oh no, there's no sansho pepper! And no shichimi either! (lol) What a shock! It was advertised as "Miura's Grilled Conger Eel," but without Yagenbori's sansho pepper...~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ So, next time, I will make sure not to make such a mistake and enjoy delicious food without any mishaps. I will get the "special blend extra spicy" and "medium spicy" shichimi (of course, with a lot of sansho pepper) and the "powdered sansho pepper" in original packaging. That's all from My Spice & Herb♪ - o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o- *Special Blend: Usually, they mix it in front of the store, but due to the current situation, they are handling it in the back. Therefore, you cannot check the "fragrance" on the spot. Another disappointing thing is that my favorite mixologist retired last year. This is a big shock!!! (；∀；)

The atmosphere of New Year's has become limited to just the first three days, but when I was a child, I used to enjoy the lingering feeling of New Year's by flying kites, playing shuttlecock, and playing karuta until school started (and even after it started). I think the best way to spend the New Year holidays is to relax and enjoy, rather than rushing around to all the shops. In 2020, the way the days fall means that many places have a holiday until the 5th, so there is a better chance to enjoy the atmosphere compared to previous years. It's kind of nice (laughs). So, since I used up all my shichimi togarashi (seven-spice blend), I decided to take a walk to Yagenbori in Asakusa. It took about an hour to leisurely walk there, and when I arrived in Asakusa, the Nakamise Street was crowded with people. It's like Ameyoko at the end of the year (laughs). It makes me not want to walk around, and I'm sure there is a long line for hatsumode (first shrine visit) at Sensoji Temple. Originally, I just came to buy shichimi togarashi, so I moved a bit towards Tahara-cho, but the streets and alleys were crowded with people. I think to myself that I shouldn't have come to Asakusa at this time, but Asakusa is a nice place to enjoy the New Year atmosphere, so the crowdedness is also enjoyable. There are women in furisode (long-sleeved kimono) and traditional Japanese clothing, and even men, adding to the festive feel. Maybe we should have worn Japanese clothing for our walk. But it's too cold. We slowly walk through the crowds and arrive at the Yagenbori main store, where the narrow shop is also filled with people. The basic medium-spicy shichimi togarashi set at the entrance is selling quickly. We go inside and ask for our preferred blend. Our preference is for a shichimi togarashi that is between medium-spicy and hot, with a strong aroma. We ask for some extra sansho (Japanese pepper) and unroasted shichimi togarashi to be added to the medium-spicy blend, and a woman mixes it for us to confirm the aroma. We add just a little bit of sansho, and a bit more of the unroasted shichimi togarashi, and it's ready. As always, they pack it in an aluminum package for us. It's great that we can create our own preferred level of spiciness and aroma. It's worth coming all the way here. We return home and will use it for tonight's ozoni (New Year's soup) and osechi (New Year's dishes). You can create your own custom shichimi togarashi blend, so if you happen to be in the area, be sure to stop by!

In our home, we have always had our own special blend of "Yawataya Isogoro" seven spice recipe. But today, I decided to try something new. Sometimes you just want a change. Of course, I know that Yagenbori can also customize the blend to your liking, but since it's my first time, I decided to purchase the regular blend. I bought the "Seven Spice Chili Pepper - Medium Spicy 27g" for 540 yen. It has a nice aroma, even though it's medium spicy, the sansho pepper gives it a good kick. And when it comes to Yagenbori, you can't forget their unique container. I got the "Mini Wooden Bamboo-shaped Container (Keyaki)" for 2,025 yen (comes with the seven spice). It may seem a bit pricey, but it includes the seven spice chili pepper which costs 540 yen. Without it, the experience would be lacking. The container is made of zelkova wood, 90mm in height and 30mm in width. When I actually used it, I found it to be very well-made and easy to use compared to the gourd container I usually use. With the gourd, the fine powder residue of the seven spice often remains, but with the Yagenbori container, you can easily shake it out by removing the cork. The fragrance of the seven spice is what makes it special. We don't have any spice enthusiasts in our home who love super spicy food, and we don't douse everything in spice to make it hotter, but we do use the seven spice occasionally and it's a must-have in our kitchen. We like to indulge a little in ingredients like dashi, salt, and seven spice.

My parents used to call it "Yagenbori" instead of shichimi. I always thought that Yagenbori was a tradition in Asakusa, but the store in Higashi-Nihonbashi moved to Asakusa in 1943. The staff at the store in Shin-Nakamise mix 7 ingredients in front of you, adjusting the spiciness to your liking. The aroma when you open the bag is wonderful, and the taste is different from other shichimi. It enhances the flavor of udon and miso soup. We always go for medium spiciness, but they can make it extra spicy if you prefer. The 27g bag lasts a long time, but I wish they sold smaller units because the aroma tends to fade. I also have a small red can of Yagenbori that I bought at a department store. I used it as a shichimi container, but noticed a difference in taste compared to the bagged version. The bag contains 7 ingredients including sansho pepper, while the can has a different mix with no sansho pepper. I called the main store and found out that only the bagged version is sold in Asakusa. The canned version is available in supermarkets and department stores, with a different mix and a lower price. So, it seems that you can only get the real Yagenbori shichimi at the Asakusa store.

There is a shop in Asakusa that sells shichimi togarashi (seven-spice chili pepper). Along with Hachiman-ya Isogoro in front of Zenkoji Temple and Shichimi-ya Honpo in front of Kiyomizu Temple, it is said to be one of the "Three Great Shichimi Togarashi Shops in Japan." One of the things I like about "Yagenbori" is that they will adjust the spiciness and aroma of the shichimi togarashi to suit the customer's preference. They quickly mix seven types of aromatic spices and condiments - black sesame seeds, dried tangerine peel, roasted ichimi togarashi, red ichimi togarashi, ground sansho pepper, poppy seeds, and hemp seeds - with skillful hands. I prefer a stronger aroma of sansho pepper, so I asked for a little extra of that. I will sprinkle it on yakitori, udon, and soba noodles!

Let me introduce another dish that I have loved since I was a child. I usually eat medium spicy, but this time I tried extra spicy. A sprinkle of this on pickled Chinese cabbage! It's so delicious! A sprinkle on Kinpira gobou, wow! I had seconds of rice, and also poured it on my udon noodles and even on my zaru soba. I love sprinkling it on soba and dipping it in the dipping sauce. The spicy chili pepper and citrusy aroma of orange peel are irresistible. I personally love using it liberally, so please try it in various ways. By the way, the wooden container comes in three different shapes, including this gourd shape, and it would make a perfect souvenir. When you buy the container, you can mix and match your favorite level of spiciness. Please give it a try.