乗鞍の暮らしが見える。ほっこり手作りおやき。

Oyaki is one of Nagano Prefecture's most famous local foods, and has been made in Norikura Plateau since ancient times. The way it's made has evolved with changes in lifestyle, but the traditional, hearty flavor can still be enjoyed in this area. Can you get a glimpse into life in Norikura through oyaki? We'll introduce you to the charm of Norikura's hearty, handmade oyaki.

Life in Norikura can be seen. Hot handmade oyaki.

❶ Norikura's local food: Oyaki

Oyaki is a kind of manju (steamed dumpling) made by kneading flour such as wheat, millet, or buckwheat with water and wrapping cooked ingredients such as vegetables in the dough.no sooner than ...In the past, when soba was the staple food in Norikura, it was made from local buckwheat flour, grilled over a hearth, and eaten with soy sauce or miso.

Even after wheat flour became available, oyaki has been a popular snack in this area to enjoy between farm work. Even today, it is still enjoyed in homes and at "Norikura Delicious Food WorkshopThe members of the "" have been carefully passing down the tradition, adding their own variations using local flour (wheat flour).

❷ The birthplace of Norikura Oyaki

The mothers of Norikura are good at arranging things. Due to the nature of the area, they have been making efforts to improve and innovate since ancient times to make the limited ingredients available in the area more delicious, and this seems to represent the idea that food is the source of life and also the joy of living. But they themselves would probably say, "It's not that big of a deal!"

Taking a peek into the oyaki workshop, you can see the women chatting away as they shape the oyaki one after the other in perfect harmony. As you observe the entire process, you realize that this isn't just an oyaki manufacturing site, nor is it just a place where each woman can bring together her expert skills in oyaki-making, but also a place where they can bring together and take home the various ideas they have acquired through their daily lives, and it's impressive to see how lively each woman is. The workshop also seems to be a power spot and a source of vitality for the women in their daily lives.

❸ Norikura Oyaki filled with zuku seaweed

The traditional simple soba oyaki has been adapted over the generations, and today's Norikura oyaki has a chewy texture and is made with plenty of local ingredients such as adzuki beans, nozawana (green mustard greens), wild vegetables, pumpkins, potatoes, and more.The energy to work hard. Perseverance. Motivation." is called "Zuku" However, when you listen to the mothers who make them, it seems that Norikura's oyaki would not be possible without "zuku."

This is because the adzuki beans and vegetables used as fillings for the oyaki are grown in the fields, and of course the wild vegetables are picked in the mountains themselves, and the nozawana is expertly pickled and aged to make delicious homemade treats. As they roll each oyaki in this way, they also pack in plenty of their love, which they call "zuku." This overlaps with the scenery of mountain life in Norikura. Norikura oyaki is a concentrated version of the essence of a rich mountain life. There's no way such oyaki wouldn't be delicious.

❹ A wide variety of colorful oyaki. Find your favorite.

Norikura's oyaki are affectionately known as "Colorful Oyaki" and, as the name suggests, are colorful. They use wild vegetables that grow in the Norikura Plateau, which is located at an altitude of 1,200 to 1,500 meters, and cultivate and harvest crops suited to this region, which experiences large temperature differences, and cook them with simple seasonings. Furthermore, the natural coloring makes them visually appealing, allowing you to truly savor the bounty of Norikura's mountains.

Among these colorful oyaki, we recommend the "This is my standard!Try to find an oyaki that makes you think, "This is delicious!" These oyaki are packed with the bounty of the land, such as the natural bounty of Norikura and the "zuku" of the makers. If you can find an oyaki that makes your mind and body happy every time you taste it, then it has become Norikura soul food for you. For those who are unsure which oyaki to try, we will introduce some representative oyaki.

Flower beans

The filling is made from half-mashed sweetly boiled purple bean (crab bean), a specialty of Norikura Highlands. The buckwheat flour used in the dough is also locally sourced. You can enjoy the granular texture and soft bean flavor.

Mugwort pumpkin

The filling is made from fluffy pumpkins grown on the plateau, which are packed with sweetness. The dough is made from mugwort picked in the spring and kneaded into a paste.

wild vegetables

Bracken and fern that sprout in the plateau in spring are picked and preserved in salt using traditional methods and used throughout the year. Every time we make oyaki, we salt it to add flavor, creating a nostalgic taste.

Nozawana

This oyaki is made with Nozawana greens, which are harvested in autumn, salted in large barrels, and aged in a pickling shed that has been passed down for many years.It has a rich flavor and is a perennially popular dish.

Black rice potatoes

The filling of this oyaki is made from sweet potato dumplings, which are traditionally offered as an Obon offering in this region. The dough is kneaded with black rice.

Sweet apples

These oyaki pancakes make the most of the tartness of Shinshu apples and the sweetness of steamed sweet potatoes. The dough is colored with black tea, making it a gorgeous treat. This autumn-only oyaki pancake is popular with children.

❺ How to purchase Norikura colored oyaki

Norikura colored oyaki can be purchased at Okamisan Shokudo, irodori, and GiFT NORiKURA in the Norikura Tourist Center from Golden Week through the autumn green season. The types of oyaki available change depending on the season, and the types and numbers available are limited, so if you want to be sure to get your hands on some, please contact Norikura Umaimono Kobo directly.

Umaimono Kobo can also ship frozen to other regions (for orders of 10 or more). They're great for home use or as gifts. Why not try Norikura Colorful Oyaki, a local delicacy that embodies the soul of Norikura, and add a splash of color to your travels and everyday life?

Norikura Delicious Food Workshop