4 ms·

Narrative is at the essence of what makes something premium, whether that narrative is true or not. This is like the story around Yemeni coffee/Port of Mokha,

Narrative is at the essence of what makes something premium, whether that narrative is true or not. This is like the story around Yemeni coffee/Port of Mokha, Chinese companies buying defunct Japanese camera brands, etc. This happens with watch brands, clothing companies, motorcycles, etc. That said, I'm a sucker for this bullshit and bought both of the 4-year aged sauces they sell. And yes, I bought Port of Mokha (which wasn't much different from other high-end coffee beans but at 2-3x the price) too

CydeWeys 8y ago
How was the "real" soy sauce? I'd totally buy some to try it. I definitely like soy sauce and can eat it on a lot of things. And you're right about the narrative, but the BBC is in theory an impartial news organization, and shouldn't be playing into the narrative advertising requirements of the company being profiled. The fact is that even if the knowledge of making wooden barrels had been lost in Japan entirely, it could still be restarted by bringing in experts from abroad with no material differences in outcome. Fermenting for longer in wooden barrels definitely does affect the end result; exactly where the knowledge to build those barrels comes from so long as they're made of the same materials does not.
- busterarm 8y ago
  I won't receive it until April.
  - CydeWeys 8y ago
    This article at least I'm sure will be good for their sales; too bad it's so hard for them to scale up production!
    - busterarm 8y ago
      Yeah there were a few sources online where it would have been half the price but was out of stock. I vastly overpaid Amazon. It's worth it to me though, because my approach to cooking is to take as few shortcuts as possible and start from the best, most-basic ingredients I can get my hands on. I tend to stick to Japanese, Korean and Mexican cuisines. Started doing my own fermentation this year with things like sauerkraut, hot sauces, miso...

CydeWeys 8y ago

How was the "real" soy sauce? I'd totally buy some to try it. I definitely like soy sauce and can eat it on a lot of things. And you're right about the narrative, but the BBC is in theory an impartial news organization, and shouldn't be playing into the narrative advertising requirements of the company being profiled. The fact is that even if the knowledge of making wooden barrels had been lost in Japan entirely, it could still be restarted by bringing in experts from abroad with no material differences in outcome. Fermenting for longer in wooden barrels definitely does affect the end result; exactly where the knowledge to build those barrels comes from so long as they're made of the same materials does not.

busterarm 8y ago
I won't receive it until April.
- CydeWeys 8y ago
  This article at least I'm sure will be good for their sales; too bad it's so hard for them to scale up production!
  - busterarm 8y ago
    Yeah there were a few sources online where it would have been half the price but was out of stock. I vastly overpaid Amazon. It's worth it to me though, because my approach to cooking is to take as few shortcuts as possible and start from the best, most-basic ingredients I can get my hands on. I tend to stick to Japanese, Korean and Mexican cuisines. Started doing my own fermentation this year with things like sauerkraut, hot sauces, miso...