There’s a little bit of Hemp History included in every bottled blend of shichimi, Japan’s infamous ‘seven flavours’ spice.
Shichimi is a staple on the table at almost every izakaya bar, yakitori or udon restaurant. Invented over 100 years ago, it is known for its chili pepper base, but there are, of course, six other ingredients. These include Japanese pepper, black sesame seeds, dried Milan orange peel and hemp seeds.
Considering Japan’s strict rules against cannabis, hemp seeds are probably the last ingredient you would expect to find in Japanese cuisine. A five year prison sentence is not an uncommon punishment for carrying a small amount of cannabis. Still, hemp remains a key ingredient in Shichimi.
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