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kosho

Kosho is a Japanese term that broadly denotes pepper and pepper-related ingredients, used in diverse culinary contexts. In Japanese writing, the basic sense is胡椒, meaning black pepper, the dried fruit of Piper nigrum, ground or used whole as a common spice.

The term also refers to sanshō, the Japanese pepper tree or its fruit, from Zanthoxylum piperitum and

A well-known kosho product is yuzu kosho, a paste made from chili peppers, grated yuzu peel, and

In cooking, kosho can refer to the pepper itself or to flavorings that contain pepper. Its applications

Etymology-wise, the word kosho derives from the kanji 胡椒, meaning pepper, reflecting the historical import of pepper

related
species.
Sanshō
fruits
are
used
whole
or
ground
to
impart
a
distinctive
citrusy,
numbing
heat
similar
to
Sichuan
pepper,
due
to
hydroxy-alpha-sanshool
compounds.
The
plant
is
native
to
East
Asia
and
widely
cultivated
for
culinary
use.
salt.
It
provides
a
bright,
citrusy
heat
and
is
used
to
season
grilled
meats,
fish,
noodles,
soups,
and
dipping
sauces,
often
adding
aroma
as
well
as
spice.
range
from
simple
seasoning
of
dishes
to
complex
condiments
that
influence
the
balance
of
heat,
aroma,
and
citrus
notes
in
Japanese
cuisine.
into
Japan.
See
also:
sanshō,
yuzu
kosho.