[Itoshima Drive] Don't miss it! "A spectacular view of the ocean as far as the eye can see" - The popular pudding from the salt factory (Fukuoka)

Hello. I'm Shou Fujita, a gourmet writer who aspires to live a life close to nature.

This time, we will introduce a saltworks surrounded by the rich nature of Itoshima, and some special sweets made with the salt produced there.

"Kobo Tottan" (Itoshima City), the salt factory that produces "Mataichi no Shio," a natural salt produced by the bounty of nature and a specialty of Itoshima

About 50 minutes by car from the center of Fukuoka City, the saltworks "Kobo Tottan" is located at the western tip of the Itoshima Peninsula.

They produce "Mataichi Salt" by hand using only seawater as an ingredient, and at the attached direct sales store you can purchase a wide variety of salts as well as sweets that make use of the salt's flavor.

Image: Sho Fujita

The owner of Kobo Tottan, Shuichi Hirakawa, was a former Japanese chef who discovered the inherent deliciousness of salt. When the monopoly on salt was abolished and production and distribution were liberalized, he set up his own salt factory.

Image: Sho Fujita

The land that Hirakawa chose is located in a clean environment that is less susceptible to the effects of domestic wastewater while storing abundant minerals, thanks to the special currents that are created when the inland and open seas of the Genkai Sea collide.

Image: Sho Fujita

Another key point is that it is located at the foot of a mountain, and as the seawater evaporates and circulates, nutrients from the trees and plants flow into the seawater.

Mataichi no Shio is produced under these unique natural conditions.

"The original deliciousness of salt" preserved through a traditional manufacturing method

One of the major focuses of Kobo Tottan's salt production is the traditional "multi-salt field" method, which uses the power of the sun and wind to concentrate seawater.

Image: Sho Fujita

Seawater is circulated over a period of about 10 days while being exposed to sunlight and sea breezes, and "brine" is produced, with a salinity that is approximately three times higher.

The brine is then slowly boiled in a kettle until the salt concentration reaches about 30%, causing the salt to crystallize.

Image: Sho Fujita

The company uses waste materials from the demolition of old houses and recycled cooking oil from homes and restaurants as fuel, and is committed to ``sustainable salt production'' that is considerate of the natural environment.

Image: Sho Fujita

The crystallized salt is sieved by hand to carefully remove impurities, then left to rest overnight in cedar barrels to allow the flavors to blend, before being dehydrated in a centrifuge.

Image: Sho Fujita

The resulting "Mataichi no Shio" has a mild salty taste and is rich in minerals, giving it a savory flavor.

This traditional, painstaking production method, which can take up to a month to complete, ensures that the salt retains its "original deliciousness" that cannot be achieved through mass production.

Mataichi no Shio's unique lineup

The salt section attached to the workshop offers a wide variety of salts, as well as seasonings, drinks, miscellaneous goods, and many other salt-themed products.

Image: Sho Fujita

There are two types of standard salt: "Cooked Salt" for cooking (540 yen/50g, 1,404 yen/150g) and "Roasted Salt" for table use (756 yen/50g).

"Takishio" is moist and soft, with a mild saltiness that is not too spicy, and is characterized by its ability to blend easily into dishes.

On the other hand, "Roasted Salt" is slowly dry-roasted in an iron pot for half a day, resulting in a mellow taste with no harsh salty notes. Simply sprinkling it on tempura, meat, boiled eggs, etc. will further enhance the umami of the ingredients.

Image: Sho Fujita

Other unique products available include "Rice Ball Salt" (702 yen/55g) made specifically for rice balls, "Golden Sesame" (648 yen/40g) that can be used as a topping, and "Gorgeous Salt (Curry Salt)" (918 yen/45g) that has a crunchy texture made from spices and nuts.

We tried the hit product "Salted Pudding"!

The "Pudding Section" offers a variety of exclusive items that can only be tasted here, including the popular "Pudding with Salt" (from 540 yen), "French Fries with Your Choice of Salt" (500 yen), and "Shioya Coffee Milk" (550 yen).

Image: Sho Fujita

You can enjoy your purchased products on the covered terrace, and taking in the sea breeze while looking out at the calm waters of Fukunoura is the perfect way to take a break during your trip.

Image: Sho Fujita

On this day, I bought the specialty "Pudding with Salt" "Hana Shio Plain" (540 yen) at the direct sales store, and "Iced Mataichino" (600 yen), which is coffee with foamy pudding on top.

Image: Sho Fujita

"Salted Pudding" is a sweet created with the desire to share "Mataichi no Shio" with as many people as possible. Since its release, its popularity has gradually grown, and it has now become a huge hit, with tourists from overseas visiting just to try the pudding.

We use only fresh and simple ingredients, such as fresh eggs and pasteurized milk from the Itoshima area, to create a melt-in-your-mouth texture and rich flavor.

Image: Sho Fujita

Furthermore, the richness of the pudding is further enhanced by topping it with rare natural crystal salt "Shio no Tsubu" and caramel sauce.

Image: Sho Fujita

The smooth pudding is complemented by the crispy texture and delicious flavor of the "Shio no Tsubu" (particles of salt), making for an exquisite marriage of pudding and salt.

In addition to the classic "Hana Shio Plain" and "Burnt Salt Caramel" (594 yen), there are a variety of flavors available, such as the limited-time "Shioshiro Coffee" (648 yen) and "Hana Shio Sesame" (594 yen), making for a lineup that will have you wanting to try them all.

"Iced Mataichino" is a new type of sweet drink made by layering fluffy foam pudding on top of cold-brewed iced coffee.

Image: Sho Fujita

The foamy pudding is topped with caramel sauce and bittern salt, creating a luxurious dessert-like drink with a striking contrast between rich sweetness and saltiness.

Image: Sho Fujita

"Kobo Tottan" continues to produce salt slowly and over time using traditional methods while coexisting with nature.

The encounter between Mataichi no Shio, a product of this area, and these special sweets will make your trip to Itoshima an unforgettable memory. (Text by Sho Fujita)

＜Click on the store name for more details about the store ↓＞
■Mataichi Salt Saltworks Workshop Tottan
Address: 3757 Shimakeya, Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Business hours: 10:00-17:00
Closed: New Year's holidays
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