Peppers
Botan Kosho

A rare Japanese heirloom pepper with a sweet, juicy flavor that unfolds into a gentle heat. Great for grilling and pickling.

About Botan Kosho

(Capsicum annuum) One of Japan’s most elusive heirloom peppers, Botan kosho is a true mountain treasure from the cool, volcanic foothills of Mount Madarao in Shinshu. Named for its rounded, peony-like shape, this thick-fleshed beauty starts with a burst of sweet, juicy flavor before unfolding into a gentle, lingering heat. Grown at high altitudes for generations, it develops tenderness and balanced flavor rarely found in peppers. Sweeter in cool climates, spicier when ripened to deep red. Perfect for grilling, pickling in miso, or simmering into regional dishes like “Yatara.” Now kept alive by only a handful of dedicated growers, this is more than a pepper — it’s a piece of culinary heritage on the brink of disappearing.