【AREA_PR】THE ROOTS OF SHUN (September 2020)

Iwate-Machi Specialties That Deliver a Rich Taste of Nature

Surrounded by a rich natural environment, Iwate-machi, Iwate-gun of Iwate Prefecture has long flourished through agriculture and animal husbandry. The source of the great Kitakami River that carries water across the prefecture is also located in this town, which produces the prefecture's highest volume of vegetables. The high altitude of the mountainous areas creates a difference in temperatures between day and night, making it easier to grow sweet crops. The town's vast expanse of land is also home to cows that are bred and grazed naturally.

Producers in Iwate-machi work to develop new products that showcase the region’s blessings while maintaining traditional production methods. The following are some of Iwate-machi’s specialties. * The products made in Iwate-machi we introduce here are listed as return gifts for the Furusato Nozei (Hometown Tax). For more information, visit the websites of Satofull, Rakuten Furusato Nozei, Furunavi, and ANA’s Furusato Nozei.

Iwate Menkoi Black Beef raised in Iwate's great nature

Iwate Menkoi Black Beef is raised on brown rice at Kirosa Farm in Iwate-machi. Its feed contains at least 5% brown rice, which makes the meat high in oleic acid with a low melting point of fat and achieves a smooth texture. The cows are a cross-breed between a Japanese Black and a Holstein.

The proprietary feed formula offers a taste comparable to that of the Japanese Black, with high levels of umami, including glutamate. The meat has just the right amount of marbling, making it both tasty and healthy.

At Kirosa Farm, cows are raised in an environment that minimizes stress and housed in a large barn that provides 2.5 square meters per head, with fluffy sawdust on the floor so that they may rest with comfort.

The farm is very particular about the feed it uses. No antibiotics or growth hormones are added, and staff members inspect the coarse feed using domestic rice straw and American hay directly on-site.

In addition, waste from raising the cows is turned into fully ripened compost after about half a year and used to fertilize paddy fields and cabbage fields. Meanwhile, the brown rice grown in the paddy fields is fed to the cows. The farm also engages in recycling-oriented agriculture that connects to the area’s other agriculture.

Kirosa Farm

Location	80-38 Dai 22 Chiwari, Kawaguchi, Iwate-machi, Iwate-gun, Iwate
TEL	0195-68-7766
URL	https://kirosa.jp/

Cecina, a greatly aged dry-cured beef ham crafted entirely in Iwate

Iwate-machi meat retailer “Niku no Fugane” produces “Cecina,” a greatly aged dry-cured beef ham made with select ingredients grown in the prefecture.

Cecina is a dry-cured beef ham that originated in the province of León in northern Spain. The ingredients are only beef and salt. Niku no Fugane uses only Iwate Shorthorn brand beef and “Nodashio” natural salt from Noda, Iwate. The beef is aged slowly for a year.

Iwate Shorthorn lean meat is rich in umami, including inosinic acid and glutamic acid, which makes it healthy and rich in flavor. The cows are naturally bred and grazed on vast pastures, where they are exposed to cold winds from the sea and eat plenty of grass rich in minerals.

The other ingredient, Nodashio, is made by a traditional method called Jikini-dashi in which seawater is gradually boiled down in a wood-fired oven. Though it takes much time and effort, the salt, which is mellow in flavor with minerals from the seawater, can be extracted.

In fact, the Iwate Shorthorn and Nodashio have a long history together. In ancient times, salt made in this area was traded for rice and grain, and Nambu cattle, which are said to be the origin of the Iwate Shorthorn, were used to bring the salt to the area.

Nodashio’s mellow saltiness accentuates the Iwate Shorthorn’s flavor. The cecina is a product crafted by Iwate’s natural features built by centuries of history.

Niku no Fugane

Location	5-9-1 Kawaguchi, Iwate-machi, Iwate-gun, Iwate
TEL	0195-68-7383
URL	https://nikunofugane.com/

Fruit wine "Lulu and Lili" made entirely of fruits grown in Iwate-machi

Fruits too are actively cultivated in Iwate-machi, with blueberries harvested in summer and apples in autumn. “Lulu and Lili,” a fruit wine produced by Iwate-machi Furusato Shinko Kosha, is one of the town’s representative products made from the fruitful harvest.

The blueberry wine has a slightly sweet, refreshing finish harmonized through the light tanginess and gentle sweetness of the blueberries grown in Iwate-machi. The apple wine is made from fresh Fuji apples grown in town that can be eaten raw, with juices frozen for brewing in what is called a freezing and concentrating method in which only high-sugar content juice is used. The alcohol content of both wines is kept at a low 7.5% so that everyone can enjoy sipping the wine without worry.

This product was developed to publicize the town’s specialties. The packaging was designed under the concept of “making special occasions more enjoyable.” The bottle itself is wrapped in wrapping paper, making it a perfect gift.

Roadside Station Ishigami-no-Oka

Location	10-121-20 Itsukaichi, Iwate-machi, Iwate-gun, Iwate
TEL	0195-68-7383
URL	http://isigaminooka.jp/

With many rich flavors born of nature available, we are sure that more new specialties will be created by combining the region’s bounties.

Other Iwate-machi Specialty/Local Products

Iwate Innards Hot Pot
Shinichiro Gyoza
Kikuchi Farm's Sausage Assortment
Iwate-machi no Kaori (Sweets assortment)
Soba with Nagaimo

Iwate Innards Hot Pot

This dish features a secret additive-free sauce based on soy sauce, sesame, and miso that combines with the tasty texture of plump, fresh innards. You can also enjoy this nutritious dish at home simply by adding vegetables and tofu.

Sato Meat Shop

Address	7-5 Numakunai, Iwate-machi, Iwate-gun, Iwate
URL	http://horumonnabe.com/

Shinichiro Gyoza

Special gyoza (dumplings) made primarily from the rich agricultural and livestock products of Iwate-machi.

There are two varieties: Nebari stuffed with nebari-imo (Chinese yams), Japanese mustard spinach, green onions, and Yamato pork, and "Haru Midori" stuffed with "Iwate Haru Midori" cabbage harvested in the spring, garlic, and Yamato pork. Nebari is characterized by the sticky yet crispy texture of nebari-imo. Since it is free of garlic and eggs, the gyoza can be enjoyed without worrying about bad breath afterwards, and people with egg allergies can also enjoy this gyoza. "Haru Midori" is based on an innovative recipe with lots of cabbage that takes advantage of the sweet, soft, and juicy nature of spring cabbage, which was previously said to be unsuitable for gyoza. The gyoza dough is made by a highly skilled noodle manufacturer and is characterized by its chewy texture and wheat flavor. The gyoza is made entirely in-house.

Konamu Co., Ltd.

Address	10-9 Ekarinai, Iwate-machi, Iwate-gun, Iwate
URL	http://konamu.com/

Kikuchi Farm's Sausage Assortment

Homemade additive-free sausage crafted with artisan techniques mastered in Bayern-Tirol. The ingredients consist only of meat, spices, and salt. Grass-fed beef raised naturally and grazed on Kikuchi Farm as well as Ryusendo Black Pork from Iwaizumi, Iwate are used. The sausages burst with the wild taste of meat that only natural grazing can deliver.

Kikuchi Farm

Address	1-256 Ikkatai, Iwate-machi, Iwate-gun, Iwate
URL	http://kikuboku.com/

Iwate-machi no Kaori (Sweets assortment)

An assortment of handmade confectioneries made by Marunaka, a Japanese-Western-style confectionery shop in Iwate-machi. "Shinonome" is a chewy, crunchy dry confectionery made primarily of rice flour accentuated with flavors from walnuts and sesame seeds. The Japanese-style madeleine "Temae Miso" is made with a paste that combines miso made in Iwate-machi with black flat beans from Morioka, Iwate. The vegetable-flavored crunchy cookies "Yasai Jiman" are made with five kinds of vegetable powders (cabbage, spinach, pumpkin, burdock, and carrot), each of which is made from vegetables grown in Iwate-machi.

Marunaka

Address	9-25 Numakunai, Iwate-machi, Iwate-gun, Iwate
URL	https://www.55marunaka.jp/

Soba with Nagaimo

This thick soba is made with buckwheat flour made in town and uses nagaimo as a binder also made in town, which creates an enjoyable texture. The starchy yams are carefully kneaded into the noodles to attain a a chewy, smooth texture that is unprecedented for dried noodles. The soba makes an impression as it is twice as thick as normal soba noodles.