Bainiku -Neriume, salted plum paste, aged for 3 years, Fukami, Japan, 110 g

The long aging process gives this paste a particularly high umami content. A few drops enhance tofu (hiyayakko), grilled fish, pork, or chicken. Serve with anchovies, spring onions or chives, sesame seeds, and olive or sesame oil as a dip for raw or cooked vegetables. Fukami is a fourth-generation family business and grows its own ume (Japanese plum), which is then processed into umeboshi (pickled plum) and umesu (plum vinegar). The company is located in Wakayama Prefecture, world-famous for its nanko ume fruits. The ume processed into this paste is grown without pesticides or artificial fertilizers. This puree has a particularly high umami finish and an intense ume fruit flavor. The salt content is traditional, so use sparingly.