Shizuoka's food cultureKnow

"Daidai" (oranges) brighten up the winter in Shizuoka. Atami and Ito are one of the leading producing areas in the country, and much of the orange is shipped out as decorations for the New Year.

You may have a strong image of oranges as decoration, but did you know that they are also deeply rooted in people's lives as a traditional ingredient, used in the region's homemade ponzu sauce and sushi vinegar? In recent years, new product developments have been underway, and oranges from Atami and Ito are once again attracting attention. We will unravel their hidden charms and future.

The origin of oranges in this area dates back to the end of the Edo period, when sailors from Kishu who called at Ajiro Port, located halfway between Atami and Ito, brought orange seeds with them and planted them in this area.

The Atami/Ito area, close to the sea and warm even in winter, is the perfect place for growing oranges.

11When the moon comes, the mountains in this area are dyed a brilliant orange all at once, creating a special sight that remains unchanged for generations and is unique to this town.

On this day, we visited Ito City.JAAt the sorting facility in the Aira Izu area of ​​Fuji Izu, the branches of piled-up "tangerines on the twigs" were cut and prepared for processing.

Atami and Ito areas boast the highest shipments of oranges with branches, which are displayed at New Year's with the wish that "family lines will continue for generations."

The container is filled with oranges for processing. Although they don't have the decorative leaves, their mellow fragrance and quality remains the same.

 The person we spoke to was a former agricultural cooperative instructor who took over a citrus farm this year.13Yasuo Inaba is 20 years old.

"Tangerines have a limited lifespan.50~60It is said that the year is 2000. But orange is100They continue to grow well even after more than 10 years. Also, if you leave them unharvested, the fruit will remain until the next year and turn green again in the spring."Rejuvenate"It seems like that, right?

Old and new fruits live together on the same tree, and neither one falls. This is why it is said to symbolize "getting along well for generations," and it has been treasured as a lucky charm for the New Year.

Nearby, local part-time workers were rhythmically moving scissors with a "snap, snap" sound.

"In Ito, oranges are an essential part of life. We use them as a substitute for vinegar or to make ponzu sauce. If you wet your knife with orange juice before cutting sushi rolls, the aroma will be amazing."

"It's also delicious to mix the juice with hot rice to make sushi. It's convenient to freeze freshly squeezed juice, and it's truly a daidai deity!"

The sorting room, where such conversations were taking place, was filled with the refreshing scent of oranges and a lively atmosphere.

"Currently, there are approximately 100 orange shippers.120As producers are aging, production volume is decreasing year by year, but the purchase price has also increased recently."

The person who told me this was,JAThis is Suzuki Shu from Fujiizu. In fact, Suzuki's family also runs mandarin orange farms. Knowing the harsh reality of the production site, he sees the rise in prices as evidence that the value of this "lucky charm" is being reevaluated.

Suzuki also told me the following:

"The oranges from this region are of high quality and are even used as ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine."

 The "Orange" brand was created to share the charm of this orange with more people.JAFuji Izu Daidai Cider.

This cider is made with oranges grown in the Atami and Ito areas and deep sea water from Akazawa, Ito city. Deep sea water is characterized by its mild taste and smooth texture. With one sip, the gentle fizz of the carbonation spreads throughout your mouth, and the refreshing acidity of the orange fills your mouth.

 Although it looks similar to an orange, daidai is a citrus fruit with a strong sour taste, similar to lemons and known as an "acid citrus." Its deliciousness is enhanced by processing it rather than eating it as is.

Taking advantage of the characteristics of orange,JAFuji Izu Orange Marmalade.

The most surprising thing is that they use the whole orange, excluding the seeds, grown in the Atami and Ito areas. They are made with a painstaking process that involves separating each fruit by hand and carefully sorting the peel and juice.

The only ingredients are oranges and sugar. This simplicity has made it a hit since its release.20This is why it has been loved for over 100 years.

Orange marmalade and orange cider are available in Ito City.JAYou can purchase it at the Ide Yukko Market, a direct-from-producer market in Ide.

 Daidai oranges are now a popular gourmet food that represents Atami City, and the place that symbolizes this is Kinomiya Shrine, which has been a place of worship for a long time.

Here, daidai has been said to be one of the gods' favorite foods. The "Raifu Sweets" initiative was started to cherish this connection.

 This project aims to "bring good fortune" by enjoying oranges, which are associated with the gods, as delicious sweets.

We especially recommend the "Musubiba Yaki (Orange Bean Paste)" available at "Torii no Musubiba," a shop run directly by the shrine. The crispy pie crust is baked until fluffy, and the sweetness of the bean paste and the aroma of the orange are a perfect match. Furthermore, it makes the perfect combination when paired with the refreshing "Orange Cider" made with orange marmalade, which is sold at the "Chaya Hoko" teahouse attached to the shrine.

 You can also find orange sweets at Atami Pudding, a popular shop that always has a long line of customers.

It's the "Furo Maju Pudding Daidai," a rich, pure white "Furo Maju Pudding" topped with orange jelly. The rich, gooey pudding is topped with a generous amount of sparkling orange jelly. The moment you put it in your mouth, the fresh acidity of the orange bursts forth, followed by a rich aftertaste.

The Atami/Ito oranges have been carefully cultivated in this area with the hope that they will continue for generations. While carefully preserving the Japanese culture that lives on in New Year's decorations, this tradition is now expanding to new stages.