
The appeal of "Smotchi," a smoked gourmet food originating from Yamagata Prefecture, and recipe variations!
Have you heard of "Smotchi," a smoked food delicacy from Yamagata that has been all the rage recently?
We will introduce the appeal of "Smotchi," an addictive dish made from freshly laid eggs that are slowly smoked, and some recommended variations
What is Smotchi?
Smocchi is a product developed by Hanzawa Chicken Eggs in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture. It
has been featured in various media outlets, and most recently it was highly praised by Matsuko Deluxe on the TBS program "Matsuko's Unknown World" in the segment "The World of Ramen Flavored Eggs" (aired in June 2022).
It can be purchased as a mail-order gourmet food from anywhere in the country
The appeal of Smotchi
It is easily recognizable by its red packaging and is a familiar product that can be seen daily in supermarkets in Yamagata Prefecture

Smoked in the shell! The fragrant aroma is addictive
Smotchi uses fresh eggs carefully selected by egg professionals and smoked in their shells

I actually opened a pack of Smotchi that I bought at the supermarket. The moment I opened the package, the delicious aroma of smoke spread throughout the air!
Spots found, a sign of thorough smoking
I tried peeling the shell

The white flesh is plump and delicious

The white flesh has brown spots. This is proof that it has been thoroughly smoked all the way to the center of the shell.
Smocchi smokes its fish slowly and carefully using an internationally patented smoker.
The secret to the deep aroma is the exquisite blend of cherry wood chips used for smoking and cherry wood chips from Yamagata Prefecture
Yolk is soft-boiled
Look at that deep yolk color!

The flavor is rich, with the salt permeating all the way to the center of the yolk. It has a deep, rich flavor, but it's only seasoned with salt!
Smotchi is seasoned with sea salt extracted from the seawater near the Goto Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture
Compared to homemade smoked eggs..
I tried making homemade smoked eggs using a smoker I had at home to see if I could make smoked eggs like Smotchi at home and compare them

The one on the left was smoked with the shell removed, and the one on the right was smoked with the shell on, just like smotchi

When comparing the smoked ones with the shells and the smotchi, it's obvious that the homemade smoked ones are lighter in color
I peeled the egg on the right

It has the distinct "spots" that are proof that it has been smoked, and looks very similar to smoked smoky smoky smoky smoky
However, when you try it, there is a clear difference in taste!
While the smoked aroma of the Smotchi eggs permeated all the way to the yolk, the homemade smoked eggs had a strong boiled egg smell and I couldn't enjoy the smoky aroma
We also tried peeled and smoked eggs to compare the taste
Although this one has a strong smoked aroma, Smotchi wins in all aspects, including the richness of the flavor, the creamy texture of the yolk, and the balance of the saltiness
That's because smotchi is carefully smoked and then slowly aged for three days, giving it a mellow aroma and allowing the smoke to permeate all the way to the center
Smotchi is the best way to easily enjoy authentic smoked eggs!
I learned firsthand how time-consuming and laborious it is to make authentic smoked eggs at home.
Smochi is a highly cost-effective product that allows you to easily enjoy an authentic taste at a low price of 135 yen (including tax) per egg (as of July 2022).
Introducing recipe variations
What's the best drink to go with smotchi?
The rich flavor of the yolk in smotchi goes well with full-bodied beer. We also recommend pairing it with red wine

On top of ramen
This is a classic way to eat ramen, as featured on the TV show "Matsuko's Unknown World."
It instantly transforms your homemade ramen into something with a luxurious taste!

potato salad
This is a way of eating it that was featured in the manga "Otoriyose Ouji" (The Prince of Mail-Order Food).
The recipe is simple: just heat potatoes in the microwave and mix in Smochi!
The only seasonings are mayonnaise, salt, and pepper.
The key is not to crumble the potatoes or smotchi too much

Mail-order & Direct Store Information
Smochi can be ordered online.
In addition, their directly managed store in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, sells Smochi, as well as fresh eggs directly from the farm and sweets made with eggs.
Why not try this proud product?
Order now
- Sales company: Hanzawa Egg Co., Ltd
- Address: 2050 Takatamakita, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture
- Phone number: 023-655-2556
- Official URL:Hanzawa Chicken Eggs Official Website
Directly managed store
- Facility name: Egg Country Idekokko
- Address: 3-1 Kunugizawa Nishi, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
- Phone number: 023-673-0088
- Official URL:Tamago no Kuni Idehakokko
Google Map
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