For Goodness Sakes: Takara Sake USA Bridges Cultural Divide by Becoming OU Kosher
Anytime you take on the task of persuading one culture that has its own treasured traditions to embrace the tradition of another distinctly different culture, you had better buckle in for the ride, as it is bound to be a long and bumpy road. The people at Takara Sake USA know this in a way that only first-hand experience can teach, as it is exactly what they have been doing since their main brand of sake, Sho Chiku Bai, was introduced into the American market.
Established in 1982 in Berkeley, California, Takara Sake USA is now the top selling producer of sake (Japanese “rice wine”) in the United States. The superior water obtained from pure Sierra Nevada Mountains snow melt and premium rice grown in the fertile Sacramento Valley combine perfectly with the San Francisco Bay Area’s moderate climate to create ideal conditions for sake production. It is a recipe for successful sake-making that leaves no wonder as to why Takara Sake USA has captured the heart, and discerning palate, of America.
At Takara, the Traditional and the Modern Combine to Produce High Quality Sake
Although the production facility at Takara Sake is modern, the process for making sake is traditional. Sake is rice wine, and to develop the delicate flavor profile that reflects high quality sake, considerable care must be given to maintaining the long-perfected methods that Takara Sake brought over from Japan.
The process starts out with steamed rice, which is fermented using a Japanese method that induces the rice grains to yield desired flavor notes. Traditional sake does not have any additional flavors other than those native to rice. The finished product is crisp, clean, and powerful. Takara Sake has added to its traditional sake product line apple, lychee, and other flavors.
Keeping it Kosher in Sunnyside
SUNNYSIDE — The way Rabbi Yitzchok Gallor walks through Sunnyside’s Valley Processing plant, he easily could be mistaken for a manager. He checks temperatures, checks the plant’s equipment and points out any inconsistencies to the company’s owners. While Gallor is not an employee of Valley Processing, he could be called its most important customer. He […]
It’s Cott to be Good if the Beverage is OU Kosher
Today’s consumer is flooded with beverage choices. Is it that standard refreshing cola, tart lemon-lime or that sweet orange-flavored soda you are looking for? Perhaps it’s the New-Age fortified, vitamin-enriched waters or a sports drink. The choices are endless. However, the one word most consumers recognize about a beverage is if it’s “kosher.” Kosher is also used as a term indicating “its high quality!”
Cabot Quality Gets Stronger with OU Kosher Cheese
Kosher has its roots in Judaism, but its future has a much broader audience, as the term has come to be synonymous with quality. And in today’s America, with food safety recalls occurring on what seems to be a regular basis, many Americans are turning to well-recognized kosher certifiers such as the Orthodox Union for the reassurance they need to once again have faith in their food supply.
A Winning Story!
Two years ago in this column, I wrote about the continued upsurge in “kosher consciousness,” particularly among non-Jews. Kosher products, I noted, were increasingly being sought by Muslims and Seventh-Day Adventists with religious dietary restrictions similar to kosher, by those with dietary health issues such as lactose intolerance, and by millions of ordinary consumers who regard the OU symbol as an assurance of wholesomeness and quality.
Dear Rabbi, How Do You Make Kosher Wine?
The Orthodox Union receives many inquiries about certification of wine. This is a typical response, as written by Rabbi Nahum Rabinowitz, Senior Rabbinic Coordinator.
Everything’s Popping! (With the OU and Popcorn)
According to www.popcorn.org, Americans consume in excess of 17 billion quarts of popped popcorn annually – or about 54 quarts for every man, woman and child. The world’s primary popcorn producing region is the Midwestern United States and an entire food industry has grown up around it.
Why is popcorn so popular? Because it is nutritional, versatile and delicious! Popcorn is an easily prepared whole grain snack. Without butter or other additions, popcorn is about 31 – 55 calories per cup. It goes with almost anything, and can accept a wide variety of flavor enhancements. Today, you don’t have to do much work to enjoy this treat. While of course one can still purchase raw popcorn and either air or oil pop it, microwave popcorn has become ubiquitous. In fact, the first test of the microwave on food in the 1940’s was popcorn. By the 1990’s this product niche had over $240 million in sales. And while salt and butter remain the most popular flavors, today’s marketplace is full of gourmet popcorns — and not only caramel. There are cheese flavors, chocolate covered, nut balls and new flavor trends like jalapeno, too.
At Harlan: The Pursuit of Growth with Grains, Granola and the OU
It is not by coincidence that the Orthodox Union’s (OU) symbol is synonymous with quality. The high standards and care with which OU-certified products must be produced are recognized by consumers and manufacturers alike. For Harlan Bakeries, Inc. (Harlan), a manufacturer in pursuit of excellence and growth, obtaining the supervision and certification of the OU […]
Granola Brings Benefits to the Health-Conscious
Americans today are looking for alternatives. This trend has manifested itself in many different areas but is perhaps the most pronounced in the health sector. How often do we hear about alternative medicine? As a result, more and more Americans are electing to have a homeopath, chiropractor, or kinesiologist be their primary care physician in place of the more conventional medical doctor. In a word, Americans are looking to lead a more ‘natural’ lifestyle. After all, what can be better than what nature itself has to offer?