In recent years, the variety of Dried Sweet Potatoes, Hoshiimo, has become more diverse. Inquire from curious customers are also increasing. Questions such as; “What kind of Hoshiimo is it?”, “How does it taste?”, or “What is the Texture like?” have become more prevalent. We would like customers to know more about the product and enjoy it, so we introduced it easily. We are hopeful that this information will be helpful when choosing to make a purchase.
This Raw styled potato has a strong taste in both cold and hot weather. And it has a white or pale pink skin. It is often eaten during the winter months and has been loved over the years in Ibaraki. Generally when one speaks of Hoshiimo, one is referring to this variety. It is characterized by a refreshing sweetness which makes it extremely popular.
The name originated from the obvious excellence in taste and appearance. “BENI” means “red”, while “HARUKA” means “far superior”. The amount harvested annually is the same as, or slightly larger than the TAMAYUTAKA variety. More potato farmers are increasing their production in this variety because of it has popularity due to the high sugar content. It has a Sticky- like texture, bright yellow skin, and a strong sweetness to the taste.
This is rarer variety because it has growth tends to be in smaller size batches. The production yield is approximately 80% of the TAMAYUTAKA variety totals. In the process and production of the IZUMI Hoshiimo, accuracy and expertise are necessary in the peeling stage because the skin is thicker and therefore more difficult to peel. The successful result is a dark yellow and amber color, having a high sugar content and a special rich taste.
The harvest amount of the HOSHIKOGANE variety is the roughly the same as that of the TAMAYUTAKA variety. The skin is a red purple, the inside is pale and yellow, while the shape tends to be perfect. It's main drawback however is it's weakness to cold weather which makes it difficult to preserve long term during the winter months. It is characterized by an elegant sweetness that is not persistent.
This variety is becoming more popular as a baked sweet potato. The skin on this variety is a brilliant reddish brown, and it's the most notable characteristic is the smooth surface. This is in part due to it having fewer shoots than the BENIHARUKA variety. You will enjoy the light taste and smooth texture.
It has been developed for the exclusive use as Hoshiimo. The harvest amount is more than the IZUMI variety. The inside of the potato is brighter than TAMAYUTAKA variety. It is easy to preserve but there is a difficulty in managing the thermal control of the seedlings, thus there are few producers at present. The aftertaste tends to be light, so is quite easy to eat and enjoy.
From April to October, sweet potato is cultivated every year. From October to November, sweet potato is harvested and stored in storage with keeping proper temperature to make sugar slowly.
After making sugar sweet potato is steamed for 60-90 minutes.
Skin of steamed sweet potato is peeled off at hot temperature by hand made.
After peeling and cool off steamed sweet potato is sliced.
Sliced sweet potato is arranged to blind and sun-dried for 4-5 days depend on weather and variety.
Dried out “Hoshiimo” is condensed with sweet potato tasted and local nature.
Traditional manufacturing which has been taking over through the ages. We are committed to manufacturing that make the most of nature’s bounty. Ibaraki prefecture is the best land for making HOSHIIMO with rich soil and sea breeze. We have been taking over traditional manufacturing which make the best use of ingredients. The ingredient of HOSHIIMO is sweet potato only. It is bringing out sweetness and umami with cold and processing technique. “KINAKO” utilizing natural materials tells you about your healthy days and wealth of food. Not only HOSHIIMO, we create products that think about customer’s health.
We are aiming to become a company that gives priority to food safety and security, also take care of the local environments. We value to the attitude to work on various things sincerely. We will provide better products with a lot of capacity as a company, from production based on traditional techniques that taking over through the ages to management system making full use of most advanced technology. We are aiming for manufacturing with firm belief, have received good feedbacks.
We’re selling HOSHIIMO, KINAKO, sweets made with HOSHIIMO etc. We are really looking forward to your coming.
| Address | Excel Minami 3F, 1-7-31 Miya-machi, Mito-shi, Ibaraki, 312-0015 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +81-29-228-1137 |
| Shop hour | 10:00-21:00 |
| Regular holiday | none-except New Year’s Day-Business day 7days a week -except New Year’s Day- |
Mito Station South Exit, Excel Minami 3F near the escalator. *exit the Mito Station ticket gate and walk 1minute on the left side.
We are processor and developer of fresh agricultural products that harvested in Ibaraki and think that it would be glad if we could provide the richness of food and the good taste of agricultural products to everyone. Especially, Hitachinaka farmers began processing HOSHIIMO in the Meiji era (1868~1912), and now account for 90% domestic share. We are constantly improving the development and manufacturing methods of new varieties as a specialized manufacture. We will continue our efforts to improve quality to provide it that you can impress. In addition, we have challenged products in new fields such as “KINAKO with black sesame” which is soybean processed food since several years ago, been receiving good reviews from many retailers like drugstores. Health consciousness of food is increasing, that is why we will continue to make efforts to develop products as soon as we can according to customers request. We kindly ask for your long and continued use.
KOUTA SHOUTEN & CO.LTD President & CEO
Hiroyuki Onizawa
| Company Name | KOUTA SHOUTEN & CO.LTD |
|---|---|
| Representative | President & CEO Hiroyuki Onizawa |
| Contact Address | 【Head Office】1113 Hiraiso-chou, Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki 【Factory&Office】11848 Karasugadai, Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki 【Phone Number】+81-29-263-3737 【Fax Number】+81-29-263-3430 |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Incorporated | 1974 |
| Capital | 11Million Yen |
| Major trading financial institution | Joyo Bank Hiraiso Branch |
* When you come to our company, please come to the address of "Factory & Office". The reception desk is the second floor.
* We do not sell products at the head office and factory in principle.
Aki Onizawa (former name is Aki Kouta) who is grandmother of current president, was a midwife in Hiraiso-chou the place of founded. It is not too much to say that most of babies of those days in Hiraiso-chou were delivered by her, because she was a hard worker. As a result, “Kouta” became famous rather than “Onizawa” and we were called “Kouta” as business name without realizing. When we opened a shop, “Kouta shouten” was adopted because the name that be well known by everyone is best to business.
| 1948 | Kiyoshi Onizawa (Ex-chairman) founded fertilizer shop in address 1113 Hiraiso-chou. |
|---|---|
| 1958 | Established trust from farmers by selling fertilizer and started collecting and selling HOSHIIMO. |
| 1965 | Got the permission of rice and barley collector designated by government. Built a first rice and barley storage warehouse in Jyuusanbugyou. |
| 1966 | Built Jyuusanbugyou factory (Current rice and barley warehouse, barley tea roasting factory) adjoining freezer warehouse of HOSHIIMO. |
| 1967 | Built second rice and barley storage warehouse in the Jyuusannbugyou factory. |
| 1968 | Built starch factory and started selling. |
| 1969 | Started selling rice bran. |
| 1970 | Started making and selling barley tea. |
| 1974 | Founded KOUTA SHOUTEN & CO. LTD |
| 1980 | Kiyoshi Onizawa became the chairman of “HOSHIIMO cooperative society” and served as chairman until 1990. |
| 1988 | Built office in Toohara factory, relocated head office. |
| 1994 | Hiroyuki Onizawa (Current president) joined. |
| 1997 | Built HOSHIIMO packing center. |
| 1999 | Hiroyuki Onizawa became the president and started selling HOSHIIMO made in china. |
| 2000 | Built powders packing center, extended freezer warehouse of HOSHIIMO |
| 2003 | Built HOSHIIMO processing factory at Qingdao in China |
| 2004 | Built new office and distribution center and bean roast factory. |
| 2008 | Built processing factory for HOSHIIMO made in Ibaraki. |
| 2010 | Established KOUTA FARMER &CO.LTD, and entry sweet potato cultivation in earnest. |
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