Today, Antonio from Italy reports on the AMANO Freeze Drying Station on the first basement floor of KITTE, the shopping center directly connected to Tokyo Station.

"I've tried their instant miso soup with hot water. It was really delicious! It seems they also have Italian foods such as risotto and pasta, so I'm curious to try those, as well!" We can't wait to hear his feedback once he tastes and compares them to the originals!

Today, we interview Ms. Tsuchiya, a public relations officer of Asahi Group Foods Co., Ltd., who tells us all about their freeze-drying manufacturing methods and products.

There are always more than 100 types of freeze-dried foods available in the shop! (Amano Foods carries about 150 types of freeze-dried products!)

Their rich lineup of foods includes miso soup, pasta, risotto, curry, Chinese rice bowls and other bowl dishes, and even limited-time-only products like oshiruko (a type of red bean soup).

Freeze-drying is a manufacturing method that, as the name suggests, "freezes and dries" foods in a vacuum in a process called sublimation.

After freezing the cooked food, it is dried without applying high temperature. The result is that the color, aroma, flavor, and nutritional value are almost the same as when freshly cooked. You can store freeze-dried foods at room temperature for long periods and enjoy the taste of a freshly cooked meal by simply adding hot water.

These products have recently gained popularity as a staple in instant, easy-to-make meal, especially amongst people living alone.

Recently, they have also gained attention as a good emergency stockpile food.

"Everyone involved in the development are people who love to eat, and are committed daily to finding the best ways to make these products more delicious." The technology and quality are so high, you won't believe it's instant! Their passion for the products is clear.

Miso soup, a classic freeze-dried product!

"Amano Foods' Standard Eggplant Miso Soup (100 yen, tax included) is the most popular, thanks to its outstanding reputation for authentic-tasting eggplant. The eggplant isn't cut by machine, but by hand, which takes more time and effort, and also retains its color."

We were surprised to learn that the ingredients are hand-cut! It's challenging to make miso soup with previously cooked ingredients, even at home.

Another freeze-dried product that uses this same eggplant processing technology is the Marugoto Sozai Freeze-Dried Eggplant (453 yen, tax included). This product is only the freeze-dried eggplant, which you can use for a variety of other dishes!

The most popular item at this store is the Standard Miso Soup Aosa (100 yen, tax included).

One of the most surprising products is the miso soup that contains shellfish, such as the Shijimi (Akadashi) and Asari (140 yen each, tax included), which are part of the same Standard Miso Soup series.

"When you add hot water, the shellfish pop out from the inside." You would never imagine that there were full clams in here just by looking at it!

Among the freeze-dried side dishes, we recommend Hatake no Curry: Vegetable and Chicken Curry (280 yen, tax included).

Ingredients include vegetables such as young corn and broccoli, simmered in sauce and a vegetable purée. Their dedication to flavor is evident in the taste!

"Most people have rice at home, but don't have time to cook it when they come back from work. Also, many people find it troublesome to prepare side dishes. In that case, these are perfect, and you can eat them right away!"

"These products are generally low in calories, aren't they?" asks Antonio.

"That's right. Too much oil would make it difficult to freeze, so freeze-dried products are generally low in fat. The rich cheese cream pasta has 147 calories, and the Hatake no Curry series has 200 calories. Not only are they great for lunch, you can also eat them when you're hungry at night, guilt-free!"

For Antonio, who loves cooking, it's not only taste that's important, but health!

The KITTE store also has cups and water heaters so you can prepare and eat them on the spot! It's perfect for those who want to indulge right away. There's also a measuring cup so you can measure the right amount of hot water for any product.

With that, it's time to try the recommended products! There are two types of miso soup: the most popular Standard Miso Soup Eggplant, and the Standard Miso Soup Asari, which has a generous helping of clams.

Once you add hot water, the eggplant gradually expands.

"We have many types of miso soup, but we select and combine the soup stock and miso that best pair with the taste of the ingredients." This, along with the manufacturing technology, shows that the secret behind the deliciousness of these products is attention to detail.

"The eggplant is delicious! It tastes just like the real thing."

Next, Antonio prepares the Standard Miso Soup Asari.

"Of course, it's delicious to eat, but it's also fun to prepare yourself. It's interesting to watch how it's done!"

The people in charge of development at Amano Foods strive to create an enjoyable preparation process. Freeze-dried foods are fun to watch as you simply add hot water, and watch the ingredients expand into a finished meal right before your eyes!

After adding hot water, a plump, juicy clam appears in the Asari Miso Soup!

"The clam has a plump, chewy texture, and the scent of the ocean, just like a fresh clam!" Even the freshness is evident in the taste, which has also been calculated down to the last detail.

"These are the ones I'm most interested in!" says Antonio, aiming for the Italian meals next.

Staff member Tsuchiya personally recommends Mitsuboshi Kitchen Three-Cheese Creamy Pasta (216 yen, tax included) and Bistro Risotto Carbonara Style Risotto (216 yen, tax included). Time to try them out!

"As mentioned earlier, foods that are high in oil or starch, such as pasta, are not suitable for freeze-drying. But after repeated research, we have succeeded in commercializing pasta. The molds are also custom-made. It took about two years to develop them."

So how does the Italian food taste?

"This is really delicious! I've tried the one in a cup, but this one is tastes better. The short pasta is completely covered in sauce, and it tastes perfect, just like you'd eat at a normal restaurant." Antonio gives it a rave review!

Next up is the Risotto.

"This is between risotto and porridge. I think the texture is closer to porridge. Risotto usually has more rice and is chewier than this. But it still tastes excellent!"

Next up are the side dish products, the special Hatake no Curry: Vegetable and Chicken Curry, and the Small Chinese Rice Bowl, which even includes a whole shrimp with the tail still attached! (270 yen each, tax included)

The following curry is stewed in a vegetable purée and has a taste similar to soup curry. It goes well with bread, and is even good for breakfast.

"It's delicious and has so many vegetables! You could even serve this at a shop," says Antonio.

We even found this big shrimp in the Chinese Rice Bowl! This is quality you wouldn't expect from an instant, just-add-water food. "Wow! This shrimp is amazing! The texture and taste are solid. I ate all the way to the tail (laughs)."

Finally, the last product. Here's what Antonio-san mistakenly thought was cheese fondue: Marugoto Sozai Freeze-Dried Yam Tororo (604 yen, tax included).

This product melts simply by adding water. Yam is difficult to keep on hand and often cannot be fully used up. With this, you can easily eat as much as you want.

"If you mix the cut okra and mentsuyu soup base, you can prepare a quick, simple dish." A rare ingredient rarely used in foreigner-friendly Japanese meals, it's also very useful for cooking on a tight schedule.

Though all of them were high-quality and delicious, Antonio manages to narrow it down to his top three.

The winners are the curry, the pasta, and the eggplant miso soup! "I thought the pasta was really amazing. It was delicious. I don't usually eat heavy meals for lunch, but the pasta and soup were perfect. They come in the perfect amount. And for about 300 yen, it's really cheap. I was impressed by the ingredients in the miso soup. The flavor was strong and delicious, I can still taste it. And the curry! (Laughs)"

Antonio, who is no stranger to authentic Italian cuisine, seems to approve of the pasta. This is all thanks to the difficult efforts taken in the product's development.

"They're really delicious, and I think foreigners would really enjoy them. Japanese food is really popular and many people love it, so it's definitely convenient to have English on the packaging. I think even my family would like it. I can serve it at home when I return to my country. There are so many delicious and wonderful foods in Japan, we should promote them more!"

Antonio, who loves Japan as much as his home country, shares his passionate opinion. We should also put more effort into sharing the joys of our country!

Freeze-dried foods, which are preserved to retain the taste of a freshly cooked meal, make "great souvenirs for foreigners since they're lightweight and have a long shelf life. People will surely be surprised when they make it, and will certainly be pleased."

It's wonderful that we can enjoy authentic Japanese food anywhere in the world thanks to this Japanese technology!

Amano also has a Freeze Drying Station in Yokohama with a dine-in area, so be sure to check that one out, as well!


AMANO Freeze Drying Station Yokohama
・Address: 3F, Yokohama Bay Quarter, 1-10 Kinko-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa
・Phone: 045-620-9031
・Hours: 11:00am - 8:00pm
・Number of seats: 15 (5 at counter, 10 at tables)