SMOKED TAKUAN Slice -いぶりがっこ(スライス)

Iburigakko is a distinctive smoked pickled daikon that originates from Akita Prefecture in Japan's snowy Tohoku region, sold here ready-sliced.

Instead of sun-drying, as with ordinary takuan, daikon for iburigakko is smoked for several days over a wood fire (traditionally using broadleaf woods such as oak or cherry), a method that developed because heavy snowfall in Akita made outdoor sun-drying impractical. The smoked daikon is then pickled in rice bran and salt to ferment for weeks, resulting in a pickle with a crisp bite, a smoky aroma, and a subtly sweet, savoury flavour. It is enjoyed as a side pickle with rice, as a snack with drinks, or chopped into salads.

• Origin: Japan, Akita
• Category: Smoked pickled vegetable
• Usage: Serve sliced as a side pickle with rice, as a snack with drinks, or chopped into salads
• Storage: Keep refrigerated after opening and consume within the use-by date