There are two main features of NICATA
"Abundant fresh water flowing from Izu Amagi"
Numazu water is maintained by pumping groundwater from a deep well and then minimizing the treatment for drinking. In other words, it is fresh water in a state close to nature.
We wash the bonito in its fresh water and boil the fish.
Depending on the production area, salt water or seawater is used for this work, but fresh water has been used in Numazu for a long time.
As a result, the salt content of the knots themselves is extremely low, making it possible to give a more delicate seasoning, and it is also supported by those who are more concerned about the salt content.
"Old-fashioned open-flame drying"
In the primary drying, a heat source from burning wood is sent to the dryer with a fan and dried while smoking. Some manufacturers use burners together, but we don't use anything other than firewood.
Transfer the fish that has risen from the primary drying to the secondary dryer.
It is dried over an open flame with firewood in the basement, and it is the closest drying method to the traditional hand volcanic method. This process is repeated for 3 to 10 days, depending on the size and quality of the fish, until the knots are fragrant and smoked at a lower temperature than the primary drying.
By drying with a heat source of hardwood over an open flame, it is slowly dried and scented. And we believe that we can bring out the taste of smoked fragrant and old-fashioned flakes.
With these two points, it will be bonito flakes and bonito soup that have a craftsman's soul that only we can make.
In addition, as an environmental consideration, the firewood used for smoking NICATA is thinned wood. By converting unused wood into a resource, it is treated the same as biomass fuel.
And the burned ash is also reused as fertilizer and lye remover.
In addition, fish bones and heads are dried and processed into organic fertilizer.
Cherish the blessings received from the sea and the mountains,
Not only bonito flakes, but also by-products
We regard it as a valuable resource.