Behind every rare ingredient, a farmer you’re supporting.
When a Michelin chef colleague returned from holiday in Japan and shared a social media photo showing off the culinary ingredient “souvenirs” he’d collected, a light bulb went off for Ayako Yuki. A native of Japan’s countryside and passionate home cook, Ayako realized global chefs wanted access to the new and rare Japanese ingredients she missed in the U.S. In this moment, The House of Umami was born to bring the hidden flavors of Japan to the world, and help farmers struggling to survive the current threat of extinction in an aging population.
Ayako and her husband Nobu set out to search the highest mountains and farthest countryside of Japan, to curate a pantry of ingredients never before available outside of Japan. And because Ayako works direct-to-farmer, she is able to pay them more. Your purchases not only help sustain these artisans, but also their ancient traditions – Japan’s cultural heritage.
In Japan a “Mikawaya” knocks at the kitchen's back door and sources the chef's requests. Ayako and The House of Umami are your Mikawaya. We are thrilled to bring you innovative and never-before-available culinary ingredients from Japan, to support at-risk farmers. We can’t wait to see what you create with these never-before-tasted ingredients.
Meshiagare.
Our Promise
One of a Kind
Heirloom Ingredients
Sustaining Farmers
At Your Service
One of a Kind
“This is astounding,” and “WOW,” is what we hear in Michelin-Star chef tastings. Our ingredients are like nothing you’ve ever tasted before, and the 2% you've tasted? Our quality is far superior. We are thrilled to offer chefs a bespoke, one-of-a-kind Japanese pantry. We can’t wait to see what you’ll create.
Heirloom Ingredients
The flavor and innovation of our artisan family farms is backed by as many as 15 generations, and 150-year-old farms. Slow flavor (even slower than slow food), leads to remarkable ingredients.
Sustaining farmers
Japan and its culture are at risk of vanishing due to a historic low marriage and birth rate, leading to an aging, and extinction-threatened population. Every purchase allows us to pay farmers direct and higher pay. When you shop from The House of Umami you support multi-generation family businesses, allowing not only for the artisans to continue to innovate, but to put food on their tables, and send their children to college.
At Your Service
Ayako Yuki is a chef’s personal “Mikawaya,” at your service to source and curate rare, heirloom, and authentic Japanese ingredients, globally. Register as a vendor to make an inquiry.