Using soybeans from Niigata Prefecture, domestic wheat, and domestic salt, "raw soy sauce" is micro-filtered without burning (heat treatment) to remove microorganisms such as yeast, and is finished with a mild taste of salt or salt. *Yuraka Yukimuro is laid in a snow room in Ochiya City, Niigata Prefecture. ● What is a snow room (from the Echigo Snow Muroya website) The ancient wisdom of the snow country is to preserve food in a natural refrigerator cooled by the power of snow. The room is a constant environment with a temperature of 0°C and a humidity of 90% or more, and there is no electrical vibration and there is little effect on food due to light and dryness, so freshness is maintained and deliciousness is improved. Effects of snow room storage and maturation Rice and vegetables are sweetened by starch saccharification, and the meat is made into high-quality aged meat with little dripping. In addition, research has proven that the unpleasant odor (aldehydes) generated during aging of sake and coffee is suppressed by the power of snow, and it changes mellow. Features of the snow room ❶ Constant low temperature and high humidity environment can be maintained throughout the year. The temperature inside the snow chamber is constant throughout the year, whether it is mid-summer at 35 degrees Celsius or in mid-winter at -8 degrees. Depending on the structure of the snow chamber, there is a difference in constant temperature, such as a snow chamber of 0 degrees Celsius and a snow chamber of 5 degrees, but there is no fluctuation in temperature throughout the year. The thermostat starts up to keep the average temperature of the refrigerator at 4.8 degrees, causing temperature fluctuations between 10 degrees ~ -1 degrees. The temperature difference makes the cells of the food more vulnerable to damage, which affects the maintenance of deliciousness. In addition, the snow room is a high humidity environment with a humidity of 90% or more. By storing food in a humid and humid space, it prevents dryness and maintains freshness. Compared to refrigerators with low humidity and low humidity, snow chambers in low temperature and high humidity have an overwhelming ability to retain freshness, and can be stored in a state close to the original freshness. ❷ Stress-free aging unaffected by vibration and light The snow chamber uses snow, which is a natural energy, so there is no vibration of electricity. In addition, it is not subject to fluctuations in light and temperature due to opening and closing like refrigerators. This state of not being affected by external influences is called "stationary". It is said that food that is placed in a stationary state matures in good condition because it is less stressful. ❸ Changes in taste due to aging Among the ingredients that have aged well in the standing state, there are foods that change the sense of taste. For example, grains such as vegetables and rice convert starch in the body into sugar in order to protect themselves from the cold. This phenomenon is called saccharification, and this action makes the food sweeter. In addition, there are foods that cause changes in taste, such as removing miscellaneous tastes and suppressing bitterness. It has long been said to be stored in the snow and is famous for alcohol, but it undergoes various changes, such as the taste becoming thicker and mellower. In order to quantitatively elucidate the changes in taste caused by this snow, we are conducting component surveys in collaboration with various academic research institutes. ❹ Prevention of deterioration due to low temperatures, prevention of oxidation by suppressing respiration Snow: Food that has been placed in a low-temperature state, especially those in a living state of cells, will withstand the cold, so they will refrain from breathing. This state of petit hibernation suppresses the deterioration and oxidation of food. ❺ Coexistence with nature and utilization of snow energy Snow room is a natural recycled energy source that reuses snow. Snow is a nuisance in our daily lives, but in the snowy country of Niigata, the idea of "snow = use snow and coexist" has developed. Snow rooms, which were almost obsolete about 50 years ago due to the development of electric refrigerators, are now being greatly reviewed as eco-consciousness increases. It is said that by using one ton of snow, 10 liters of oil and 30 kg of CO2 are reduced.