December is a month filled with holiday home parties, seasonal greetings, and New Year's visits home, bringing with it a wealth of gifts. If you're thinking about what to bring, check out the FASHION HEADLINE editorial team's recommended gift list.

For a gift idea for formal occasions, such as business greetings or gifts for relatives, we recommend the gift set (2,100 yen) featuring salted kelp and dried sansho peppers from Shinso, an Osaka seafood wholesaler founded in 1781. The auspicious pine tree design and elegantly tied deep red braided cord create a sharp look. They also offer gift wrapping, making it a convenient gift for when you're stuck for something more important.

The salted kelp and dried sansho peppers contain no artificial seasonings, allowing the aroma of the ingredients and dashi to linger. This salted kelp, cooked together with high-quality natural ma konbu from Hokkaido's southern region and green sansho pepper, is accented by the refreshing aroma of sansho pepper. It tastes great on top of white rice or as a topping for ochazuke (rice with tea).

While there are many varieties of dried small sardines with sansho pepper, Shinso's dried small sardines have a truly gentle flavor. Apparently, the method of preparation differs from that of Kyoto's dried small sardines; rather than frying large, plump small sardines with sansho pepper, the Shinso style involves cooking them with dashi stock, soy sauce, sugar, and other seasonings. Indeed, the soft flavor is complemented by the tangy kick of sansho pepper, making it a delicious dish to eat with rice.

This is a masterpiece you'll want to reach for on those mornings when you want to soothe your stomach after a bit of a New Year's feast.

【Store Information】
Shinso Yodoyabashi Main Store
3-4-10 Koraibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
Business Hours: 9:30am - 6pm (weekdays), 9:30am - 4pm (Saturdays)
Closed: Sundays and public holidays
※Closed for the New Year holidays from December 29th, 2016 to January 3rd, 2017
TEL: 06-6201-2700

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