Shichimi

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Shichimi tōgarashi

Shichimi tōgarashi (Japanese: 七味唐辛子, "seven flavor chili pepper") or simply shichimi, is a common Japanese spice mixture containing seven ingredients. It is also known as nanami tōgarashi outside Japan (nana being an alternative word for "seven" (七)).

The main ingredient is coarsely ground red chili pepper, to which is typically added:

• mandarin orange peel
• sesame seed
• poppy seed
• hemp seed
• nori or aonori
• ground sansho (a relative of Sichuan pepper)

Some recipes may substitute or supplement these with yuzu peel, rapeseed, ginger, or shiso.

A jar of commercially produced shichimi

It was originally produced by herb dealers in Edo, current day Tokyo, and sometimes it is referred to as Yagenbori (Japanese: 薬研堀, from the name of the original place of production). Now, some specialized shops located in front of temples such as Zenkoji in Nagano and Kiyomizudera in Kyoto are well known in Japan.

It is often used in soups and on noodles and gyūdon. Some rice products such as rice cakes, agemochi and roasted rice crackers also use it for seasoning.

Shichimi should be distinguished from ichimi tōgarashi, which is simply ground red chili pepper, and means literally "one flavor chili pepper" (ichi meaning "one").