Niihime seven-spice chilli pepper

Along the ancient Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail in Mie Prefecture, there grows a rare citrus fruit found nowhere else in Japan. This is a seven-spice blend built around that fruit — the Niihime.

A scent you've never experienced in a seven-spice blend

Niihime is an exceptionally rare citrus cultivated exclusively in Kumano City, Mie Prefecture. Some years, it barely makes it to market at all. In this blend, we use Niihime juice in place of the dried citrus peel found in conventional shichimi — and the difference is immediate. The moment it hits your nose, a bright, refreshing citrus aroma opens up unlike anything you've tasted in a spice blend before.

Kansai-style warmth, with sansho pepper at its heart

The flavor profile takes inspiration from Kansai cuisine — sansho pepper lends a gentle, fragrant heat, beautifully balanced by the cool brightness of Niihime. A pinch over hot pot or grilled dishes brings out the umami of the ingredients and rounds out the overall flavor. This isn't just heat — it's spice you experience through aroma.

Available year-round, which is rarer than it sounds

Niihime harvests are small, and in difficult years the fruit simply doesn't reach the market at all. This product is one of the very few ways to enjoy Niihime's flavor consistently throughout the year. A taste of Kumano's wild nature — and a genuinely unique gift for anyone who loves Japanese cuisine.