{"title":"Maruya Hatcho Miso","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhere does the name \"Hatcho Miso\" come from?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Cho\" is an ancient unit of length, corresponding to 109.09 metres. Hat (short for hatchi) means \"8\" and Hatcho can therefore be translated as 8-cho or 870 metres.\u003cbr\u003eThe Maruya Hatcho Miso house, established in the district of Hatcho, Aichi Prefecture, is located at a distance of Hatcho (870m) from Okazaki Castle. This area was a strategic point for maritime transport as it was the crossroads of the ancient Tôkaido road, a point used by boats on the Yahagigawa river. During the Edo period (1603–1868), it was a port that held a monopoly on the salt trade. It was therefore easy to obtain ingredients such as soybeans and salt needed for the production of miso, which was then delivered by maritime transport.\u003cbr\u003eMaruya Hatcho Miso produces its products using ancestral natural fermentation processes in large cedar wood barrels (barrels of 2 metres in diameter).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe production of Hatcho Miso follows very precise steps:\u003cbr\u003every careful selection of the finest soybeans, washing and rinsing of the beans then soaking in clean water, draining then steaming, natural cooling, shaping the resulting paste into balls the size of tennis balls then inoculating with natural yeast, preparation of the Kôji (starter wort obtained after saccharification of the starch in the soybeans) which is then left to rise. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Kôji, in the form of balls, is then crushed and mixed with salt and water to obtain the \"moromi\" or wort. The mixture is placed into the cedar barrels in stages. The master craftsmen then enter the barrel and tread the mixture in order to flatten and homogenise it. This operation is repeated layer by layer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe final layer is covered with a linen cloth, and stones are then placed on top to press and compress the mixture so that it can ferment naturally.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0962\/6438\/8941\/collections\/Mr_Hatcho2.jpg?v=1788877934","url":"https:\/\/www.nishikidori.com\/en\/collections\/maruya-hatcho-miso.oembed","provider":"Nishikidori","version":"1.0","type":"link"}