Seaweed (nori) and kelp (kombu) hold an important place when it comes to Japanese cuisine. From onigiri to miso soup, you are bound to find seaweed and kombu incorporated in various forms. Kombu is usually used to add flavor to soups and stocks while nori is used for sushi, sprinkled as toppings in salads, rice, etc. as well as eaten on its own as a snack. Those who have been to Tsukiji Fish Market or Ameyoko in Tokyo are probably familiar by how unappetizing both kombu and nori can look. This can usually put off first-timers straight away! But if you want to change someone’s opinion about seaweed and kombu, how about gifting them these as souvenirs?
Kombu in various shapes
At Kombu no Kawahito, you can find adorable kombu cuttings that can be used in soup or to decorate your kid’s lunchbox. Just soak in water for 5 min and you’re ready to use the kombu. Imagine the excitement when someone finds these in their soup!
Doraemon, ideal for your kid’s lunch box.
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And here is one of the many seasonal specials. Halloween!
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Plenty of cute designs to choose from! You can even get messages like “congratulations” in Japanese.
You can buy these at Kombu no Kawahito in Asakusa.
Address: 1-5-3 Hanakawado, Taito-ku, Tokyo (3-min walk from Sensoji temple)
Design Nori®
One of my personal favorites, this is a great present for anyone who loves Japanese cuisine. Usually, foreigners are averse to the texture, look and taste of nori (seaweed) but by creating these beautiful laser-cut traditional Japanese designs, the idea of eating nori might change. See how beautiful a roll of sushi looks wrapped in Design Nori®.
Regular size sheets and mini versions available.
You can use the mini versions on top of sushi or almost any plate of food. If you plan to host a party, how about adding these on top of a lasagne or pizza?
Available at the Good Design Store Tokyo by Nohara
Address: 3F KITTE, 2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
What’s great about these kombu and nori is that you can use them as a decorative element for plating any cuisine. A useful souvenir that will remind you of Japan!
