More than 10 years have passed since Japanese food became a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, and more and more people are probably familiar with the name “dashi,” the key ingredient in Japanese cuisine. Japanese dashi is often made from bonito flakes, kelp, dried sardines, shiitake mushrooms, and other ingredients, and it brings out the flavor of the ingredients used in cooking.
This article introduces eight recommended dashi packets that make it easy to make dashi at home. Dashi packets are tea bag-like bags containing bonito flakes, kelp, and other ingredients. We will also introduce how to use them, so please buy some as souvenirs and enjoy the taste of dashi at home.
Yamaki | Dried bonito flakes shop’s dashi pack 9g x 8p
Yamaki is a manufacturer of shaved bonito flakes and a professional of bonito flakes. These dashi packets are made from 100% natural ingredients, using three types of carefully selected bonito flakes. One packet of this dashi packet makes enough dashi for 3-4 servings of miso soup. It can be boiled out of water or drunk as soup.
<Basic Information＞
Name: Dried bonito flakes packet 8p
Distributor: Yamaki Corporation
Suggested Retail Price: 486 yen (tax included)
Shimaya| Dashitennen 64g
DASHI TENNEN is a dashi packet containing bonito, kelp, shiitake mushrooms, and dried sardines. Since no salt or seasonings are used, you can enjoy the taste of dashi without any cloying taste. It is perfect for vegetable soups and noodle soups.
<Basic Information＞
Name: Dashitennen
Distributor: Shimaya Corporation
Suggested retail price: 230 yen (excluding tax)
Kuhara Honke| Kayanosha Dashi 8g x 30 bags
This dashi packet is made using only domestically produced ingredients. In addition to bonito flakes, baked sardines, Urume Iwashi, Makonbu, and other ingredients are contained in a powdered form in the bag. The large capacity of 30 bags is perfect for sharing with family, friends, or coworkers as a souvenir.
＜Basic Information＞
Name: Kayanoya Dashi (30 dashi packets)
Selling company: Kuhara Honke Shokuhin Co.
Suggested retail price: 2,268 yen (tax included)
Kuhara Honke – Kayanosha Kelp Dashi 6g x 24 bags
This kelp dashi is made from two kinds of kelp: kelp from Hokkaido and Rishiri kelp harvested on Rishiri and Rebun islands. It contains powdered kelp and chopped kelp, so you can fully enjoy the taste and aroma of kelp. Like the Kayanoya Dashi introduced earlier, you can also tear open the bag and sprinkle the powder inside on your food.
＜Basic Information＞
Name: Kelp dashi (6g x 24 bags)
Distributor: Kuhara Honke Shokuhin Co.
Suggested Retail Price: 2,268 yen (tax included)
Kusefuku Shoten | Flavorful All-Purpose Dashi 280g
This dashi is a combination of powdered and shaved bonito flakes smoked in Yaizu, famous for its bonito and tuna, mackerel flakes, dried sardines, and grilled sardines. It can be used in a wide range of dishes, including miso soup stock, simmered dishes, and stir-fried dishes.
<Basic Information＞
Name: Flavorful All-Purpose Dashi 240g (8g x 30 packets)
Distributor: Sanxer Corporation
Suggested Retail Price: 2,484 yen (tax included)
KANESHICHIBANA |Natural dashi no moto packet 8g x 50p
This dashi is made from dried bonito flakes, dried sardines, kelp, shiitake mushrooms, and horse mackerels. All of the umami seasonings, salt, and preservatives are additive-free and made with a focus on safety and security. The packets are also made of unbleached paper. For those who want to buy dashi that is gentle to the body, this is the perfect dashi packet for you. Another key point is that you can use the whole packet by tearing open the bag after making soup stock and pouring the contents directly into the food.
<Basic Information＞
Name: Ryotei Shokusen Shizen Dashinomoto Pack 8g x 50 bags
Sales company: Kane-shichi Corporation
Suggested retail price: 918 yen (tax included)
NINBEN| Yummy Aji Dashi – Bonito Flakes 5.5g x 10 bags (Japanese only)
This seasoned dashi contains domestically produced bonito flakes and Hokkaido kelp with soy sauce and other ingredients. Because it is flavored, this product is easy to drink even for first-time dashi drinkers. The company selling this product, Nimben, is a long-established company that has been dealing in bonito flakes since the Edo period (1603-1868). Recommended for those who want to try dashi made by a bonito flakes expert.
＜Basic Information＞
Name: Yui Aji Dashi: Bonito Flakes and Kelp 5.5g x 10 bags
Distributor: Ninben Co.
Suggested Retail Price: 683 yen (tax included)
Kuhara Honke Kayanoya Vegetable Dashi Consomme Style 8g x 24
This dashi is made from five kinds of Japanese vegetables: onion, garlic, celery, carrot, and cabbage. No meat is used, and only the umami of the vegetables is concentrated. The key point is that the consommé-style finish makes it easy to incorporate into non-Japanese dishes. Please compare the differences with the bonito flakes and kelp dashi we have introduced so far.
<Basic Information＞
Name: Vegetable Dashi (8g x 24 bags)
Selling company: Kuhara Honke Shokuhin Co.
Suggested retail price: 2,268 yen (tax included)
Summary
We have mainly introduced dashi packets made from katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) and kombu (kelp). These can be purchased at supermarkets, drugstores, and discount stores. Dashi packs are an easy way to enjoy dashi, so please give them a try.
