Kinome is the young leaf of the Sansho (prickly ash). It has a taste similar to curry leaves; citrusy with a hint of mint. Plus, it numbs the tongue, just like szechuan peppers do. This numbing effect is caused by a confusion in the nerves called 'sanshools'.
You may be familiar with Shiso Leaves. These beautiful, large leaves are the leaves of the Shiso plant. This plant also produces edible flowers called Hana Hijiso, or Hanaho Flowers. The flowers are not only beautiful to look at, but are also very tasty and aromatic.
Yuzu is a citrus fruit with a bumpy skin, which contains an aromatic taste and thus gives beautiful accents to dishes. Compared to lemon, yuzu is less sharp. Yuzu is also used in Japan for bathing. The peel has a wonderful aroma and acidid heat claims to reduce the colds and relax the mind. This is called yuzuyu.
Shiso Leaves Green is called 'Ōba' in Japan. And there is no fish dish imaginable that this product cannot be served with. Take a nice, fresh piece of tuna. Dip it in Japanese soy sauce and wrap a Shiso leaf around it. A true taste sensation. The leaf has a very mild taste but is definitely present.
This sharp and spicy root is popular in countries such as Germany and Great-Britain, but is now gaining popularity in other countries. It is often confused with horse radish because they got a comparable feeling of mustard-like heat. Unlike chillies, the heat from wasabi and horseradish does not linger for very long.
Myoga is also called Japanese ginger. It's ginger's little sister and it's praised for it’s beautiful, delicate flower buds. These young flower buds grow directly from the ground and when you let them grow, flowers will appear. The taste of myoga is like ginger, but mild and has the bite of a shallot.
