Sansho pepper that smells of mandarin

The sansho pepper used in Kurama no Mizu Sansho Ale has been grown by the Imae family for generations. We still tend the field today.

Most people think of sansho as tingling and hot.

But the sansho in this field smelled different. It has a citrus scent, close to mandarin or lemon.

So we decided not to put the pungency forward. What we want to use is that fresh aroma. Combined with the water of Kurama, we want a drink that calls to mind the air of these mountains.

After sansho we are thinking about mugwort and wild rice. There are still several things that grow well in Kurama.