Kesennuma Milky Oyster Sauce

160 gram bottle - Japan

No milk involved

The lore of oyster sauce is a simmering story about Mr. Sheung, a restaurateur in southern China who, in 1888, forgot about a pot of oyster soup cooking for a set time. It simmered too long and turned into a thick gravy, creating a delicious sauce that is used far and wide in dishes spanning around the globe.

With a desire to see if there was something less “produced”, we went on the hunt to find an oyster sauce that was special, and we think we found one!

This oyster sauce starts with the oyster. Oysters that are grown in the Karakuwa area, where the forests meet the sea, about six hours north of Tokyo by car on the east coast.

The bay is rich from the rivers that flow in to it, carrying the nutrients of the forests, which feed the healthy phytoplankton and provide an excellent food source for the oysters.

The intricate coastline creates a calm home with complex ocean currents that create amazing oysters.

Kesennuma only harvests their oysters from March to late May, just before the oysters spawn. This timing creates the richest taste, called “fully ripe oysters,” the milk of the sea, which makes this oyster sauce truly special.

To the nose, if unfamiliar, it will first come across as fishy. Perhaps it is not so much as fishy but more correctly the smell of the sea, just super concentrated. It is a clean, sweet smell.

To the mouth, it is a simple yet complex thick sauce with a flavor profile that brings the upper mouth the flavor of oyster and sweet & salty across the tongue. When you are done, squeeze your cheeks in for the last bit of umami.

A spoonful will be filled with oyster first and second with the tip of the tongue finishing with happiness! It is enjoyable straight up, even when it is filled with so much flavor.

Think of adding it to your stir-fries, fried rice, marinades, as a dipping sauce, or drizzling it across asparagus or green beans. Though we think of classic Chinese dishes here, think of the oyster sauce like you do Worcestershire, adding a punch of unusual vibrancy to your dish!

Remember, think a spoonful or just a dash; that might be all your dish needs to bring out the most in you.

Comparatively? This one you can eat with a spoon; the others? No way.

Ingredients: Oyster extract, sugar, syrup reduction, soy sauce, yeast extract, wheat (ingredients include wheat and soy)