What is "vinegar base"? Pitcher Sasaki Roki's favorite local seasoning [Iwate Prefecture]

Did you know that "Su-no-moto," a super local seasoning that is an essential part of the dining table in the area around Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, is becoming a hot topic nationwide?

This time, we will introduce the taste of the hometown of pitcher Roki Sasaki, a baseball player from Iwate Prefecture, along with his impressions after actually trying it.

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What is vinegar base?

Vinegar base is a synthetic vinegar that is diluted four times and is a local seasoning sold by Mizuno Soy Sauce Shop in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture

Its most distinctive feature is its intense, eye-opening sourness.
The local way is to use it undiluted.

When poured over lean sashimi, it turns the flesh white

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The reason why vinegar base is in short supply

The taste of missing pitcher Roki Sasaki

The vinegar base was so popular that orders flooded in, and it became such a big hit that it was rare to find even in the local Iwate prefecture for a while

The reason for this is that in 2020, Chiba Lotte Marines pitcher Roki Sasaki, known as the Reiwa monster, answered "vinegar base" in a Q&A segment on the team's social media account to the question, "What flavor do you miss most when you come to the Kanto region?" Roki said, "Once you get used to this, regular vinegar just doesn't cut it."

Mizuno Soy Sauce, which produces vinegar base, is a traditional local retailer that does not offer online orders or even discloses its phone number.
Despite this, it is said that the product has attracted so much attention that it has been inundated with phone inquiries from all over the country.

With the perfect game achieved, the popularity of vinegar base has skyrocketed!

In April 2022, pitcher Roki Sasaki became the 16th pitcher in history to pitch a perfect game, the first in 28 years, and vinegar moto once again attracted attention

It was featured in various media outlets, including the Nippon Television morning information program "ZIP!" and TV Asahi's "Kaji Yarou," as pitcher Roki Sasaki's favorite seasoning, and its popularity skyrocketed

At Iwate Galaxy Plaza, an antenna shop for Iwate Prefecture in Ginza, Tokyo, the limited edition of 60 bottles was reportedly a huge success, with all 60 bottles sold out in about an hour and a half

A few months after the perfect game, vinegar base was out of stock in his hometown of Ofunato City, and it was difficult to get hold of it at any supermarket

When 300 bottles were sold in limited quantities at the "Golden Land Iwate - Ofunato Night Game" held at Zozo Marine Stadium in June 2022, it was so popular that Ofunato residents who had been invited to the game purchased the vinegar mix at the stadium

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The local way to use pitcher Roki Sasaki

Pitcher Roki Sasaki's favorite thing to do is to "dip crab in vinegar sauce and eat it." Like the people of Ofunato, the home of vinegar sauce, he eats it undiluted.

It is said that people who try vinegar sauce for the first time choke because it is so sour. Roki's way of eating it without diluting it is the local way of eating it, a true connoisseur.

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Vinegar Base Review

In June 2022, when shortages continued even in Iwate Prefecture, I happened to come across a limited quantity on sale at a roadside station in the inland area of ​​southern Iwate Prefecture, not in my hometown of Ofunato, and I bought it without hesitation

The amber liquid visible from the bottle shows that it has a much stronger acidity than regular vinegar

When I opened the lid and put my nose a little closer, I was hit with a strong, pungent smell! It was a piercing, pungent smell.

I tried dipping some gyoza in the sauce, which was a mixture of undiluted vinegar and soy sauce.

The moment I took a bite, sparks flashed across my vision! I
think I put in a little too much, because even after I finished eating, my tongue still felt strange. Beginners should be careful with the amount.

I tried it with a higher proportion of soy sauce, and the refreshing aroma was addictive. It looks like it will be a great ally when eating greasy dishes in a refreshing way. It's been

about five months since I bought it. I realized that, like Roki, I find regular vinegar unsatisfying. I use it in dishes like sweet and sour pork and sweet and sour sauce, and it has now become an indispensable part of my dinner table.

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Other flavors from pitcher Roki Sasaki's hometown

Pitcher Roki Sasaki also said he misses the taste of "Menko-chan Jelly," and that he has never actually tried "Wankosoba" or "Morioka Reimen." This may be something that Iwate residents who live outside the Morioka area can relate to

The flavors we miss when we are away from home are the foods of our hometown that were a regular part of our daily meals

What flavors do you miss?

Pitcher Roki Sasaki's vinegar seasoning, a taste of his hometown, is an addictive seasoning with a strong sourness and refreshing taste.
Please give it a try.

Mizuno Soy Sauce Store <Information>

• Manufacturer: Mizuno Soy Sauce Store
• Address: 8-16 Morimachikimachi, Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture

Google Map

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