The quickest way into an unfamiliar food is a useful word, not an entrance exam. Here is how to read our shelves.
Gateway
Small portions of natto in a familiar setting. Rice, toast and a crunchy topping make good places to begin. Gateway is our editorial label; it does not mean allergen-free or medically suitable for everyone.
Classic
The straightforward combinations this collection returns to, including rice with natto. Modern variations are identified as variations rather than presented as somebody’s inherited family recipe.
Chaos mode
A playful corner for experiments. “Bold” never means relaxing food-safety standards. Untried concepts stay in draft until there is a useful, reproducible recipe and an honest description.
Culture, starter and ready-to-eat
A starter is an ingredient for a controlled fermentation process. A ready-to-eat pack is the finished food. Read product instructions rather than substituting one for the other based on how similar the packaging looks.