Collection: Sansho

Sanshō-pepper It is believed to have been used as a spice for thousands of years, although there is no conclusive evidence. It was called naruhajika during the Nara era in the 8th century and used as a medicine to treat diarrhea. It would remain primarily used as a medicine for a long time.

It was not until the Kamakura era (1185 to 1333 AD) that it was reportedly used again as a spice by the samurai during hunting. Unagi, a dish of freshwater eel with sanshō-pepper.

Our sanshō or sansho pepper comes from Wakayama and is undeniably one of the better sanshō. But in recent years there has been something structurally wrong with the cultivation, which means that pepper fails inspections time and again.

No longer available.

Since 2024, the price of sansho has increased tremendously, the number of suppliers of Sansho from Japanese soil has shrunk significantly, and the supply is limited. Consumer prices of the equivalent €1,500 and higher (!) per kilogram for dried berries and €1,800 for stone-ground green sansho are no longer unusual.

The purchase price has risen again by 40% in the past six months (summer 2025). We have therefore put sansho sales on hold, pending increased supply and more reasonable prices. We are sorry.