Okinawa is famous for its salt and sea, and the Okinawan natural salt, also called Maasu/Maashu (真潮) in Okinawan dialect, is well-known for its distinct flavor.

The salt is full of natural minerals: sodium, calcium, magnesium, and there are approximately 150 types of salts just from Okinawa.

The southernmost prefecture not only produces a variety of salts, but it is also one of the leading salt suppliers in Japan.

One of the Okinawan salt brands, Okinawa Churaumi to Shima no Megumi/沖縄の美ら海と島の恵み (roughly translated as Okinawa’s beautiful ocean and the blessings of the island), is now released under the name of Shiosai / 塩彩.

A clever and evocative name, shio (塩) means salt and sai (彩) means color in Japanese, but at the same tame shiosai (written 潮騒) also means "the sound of the waves." Shiosai comes in 10 colors, each with unique flavors. Rich in minerals, it has multiple health benefits.

This Okinawan salt has many uses. Each type can bring an extra burst of flavor and create a one-of-a-kind dish to surprise your friends.

I once got a salt gift set souvenir from Okinawa, and it had so many flavors such as curry, lemon, vegetables, tomato, etc.

Each flavor helped to enhance the taste of the food, and I could match it to the ingredients used in the dishes I cooked.

You can also choose from ten different types of Shiosai salt, and the available options are:

  • Ukon (Wild Turmeric) salt
  • Dragon fruit salt
  • Goya (bitter melon) salt
  • Beni Imo (purple yam) salt
  • Mozuku (a type of brown seaweed found in Okinawa) salt
  • Shikwasa / Shīkuwāsā (hirami Lemon; a local lime-like citrus fruit with a sour taste) salt
  • Pipatsu / Pipātsu (Java long pepper which grows wild in Okinawa) salt
  • Hibiscus salt
  • Shima tōgarashi (Tabasco pepper, or shima pepper grown in Okinawa) salt
  • Papaya & Pineapple salt

Hand-made, Shiosai has its origins in the northern part of Okinawa.

The salt also makes a great gift for those who love cooking and experimenting with different flavors.

You can also use it as a hidden ingredient for an original spin and surprise your guests with a tasty and innovative dish for dinner.


Here are the products you can find in the store

Shiosai Salt in Gift bottle type (50 g each) Price: 864 yen (tax included)

Shiosai Salt Standing bag type (100 g each) Price: 702 yen (tax included)

Shiosai Table Seasoning container (20 g each) Price: 464 yen (tax included)

Shiosai Puchi Bottle/Petit bottle (5g x 10 / box) Price: 1,458 yen (tax included)

You can also find a set of recipes with the Shiosai salts on their social media accounts linked below:


By - cinnamonellie.