Blog

Check out the newest prints by Studio Arhoj! Dress up the kids room or the living room with these playful prints that will fit perfectly into standard 8x10 inch frames. Choose from Owl with Moon, 

Sansho are tiny pods that grow on small trees or bushes – there is a citrusy zest at first, but use sparingly or else your tongue will go numb! In Japan, you'll most commonly see sansho sprinkled over grilled eel dishes or yakitori. We also carry several sansho...

Hygge (pronounced hooga) is a Danish term describing coziness and contentment – think wool blankets, candles, Rhye on the radio. This is what our version of hygge looks like: snuggling inside a kotatsu (a low table with heaters, covered by a big futon blanket), peeling mikan (mandarins), and sipping on...

Sake Gumi is our monthly sake subscription service with 150 members throughout California. Join today! Nigori means “cloudy" in Japanese, so it makes sense that nigori sake literally looks like a wispy cloud when shaken. It is a style of sake that...

Try our favorite yuzu pantry items! YUZU SALTYuzu makes everything taste brighter! Add some pizzazz to marinades, sauces or sprinkle over your favorite fried foods. Yuzu and chicken are a classic pairing in Japanese cuisine. Try using this finishing salt on...

Making candied citrus peels sounds easy enough (it's just sugar and citrus peel afterall), but it take a little bit of trial and error to get the texture just right. The first time I tried to make these, they were too moist and it ended...

Happy New Year! We hope you all had a lovely holiday season with plenty of love, laughter, and phenomenal food + drinks! Now it's time to unwind and be lazy at home. Try some of our teas to detox and indulge in maximum coziness...

We can hardly believe the year is almost over – 2018 was a good one but we are looking forward to what's in store next! We're going for gold! Our 24K Sake Set is made for royalty, fit for a grandiose...

We have great holiday gifts that also bring good luck! SHIRAKAWA DARUMAThe Daruma's purpose is to encourage its owner when achieving a goal – whether it's finding a new home, looking towards graduation, or opening a...

We have festive tenuguis and furoshikis that range from charming and quirky, to straight up weird. Tenugui can be used as a kitchen towel, and doubles as a scarf. Tie it around your neck to keep you warm during the winter months, or use during yoga stretches!

Sake Gumi is our monthly sake subscription service with 150 members throughout California. Join today! It’s time to pull out the extra blankets, dust off the heater, and drink warm sake! One of the pleasures of sake is how you can enjoy it with the...

Ah, stuff it, stuff it goodAh, stuff it, stuff it real goodOooh, baby, babyBaby, babyGet up on this! Salt + Peppa's here!... to wax poetic about filling up all your stockings with fun, delicious treats from Japan!

We love compiling our favorite products in the shop for the holidays, every year. If you've been to Umami Mart in Oakland, you'll recognize our fab crew and know that we're always brimming with suggestions – from sakes and whiskies, to finding the perfect gift. Happy Holidays...

We have festive gifts for everyone! JAPANIFY SETFor the Top ChefFor those who love to cook Japanese food at home, or wants to get started. Japanify All Day cookbook zine  Umami Salt No-MSG Dashi Medium Mortar + Pestle Suncraft White Point Paring...

Our best-sellers of the year make perfect stocking stuffers! +++ #10 Penato KnifeThe brass body encases the carbon steel blade, looking sleek in the office or at home #9 Japanify All Day ZineOur self-published...

  Start stuffing those booties on the mantle with our unique, bite-sized gifts. We have something for everyone's stockings!

Melting Mugs and Matcha Bowls by Studio Arhoj are BACK, in new, festive glazes! MELTING MUGSThese playful porcelain mugs look like they're about to melt right onto your table! Hand-cast by Studio Arhoj in...

Yoko and Kayoko fell in love with these Kin Hari glasses when they first saw them in Tokyo over a year ago – and have been dying to import them since. These hand-blown crystal glasses incorporate kin hari (gold leaves). Modern in design, each precious leaf is...

The idea to pop up in Chicago stemmed from a shower thought Kayoko had in early 2018. I got a text message from Kayoko that said "Let's do something in Chicago!" This is how things come into fruition at Umami Mart...

Welcome to the Umami Mart Kids Corner! There are so many hand-made children's toys and nostalgic motifs we come across during our travels in Japan, we couldn't resist making a little spot for them at our store. We've brought in some fun new accessories for children...