Sushi-related Products

Traditional Japanese cooking ingredients such as soy sauce, mirin and miso were once ingredients that were only accessible at specialty Asian stores. The expansion of AFC’s product line to include these ingredients, along with various other sushi-related products, gave the mainstream consumer access to traditional Japanese ingredients at their local supermarkets.

 These products are often marked ‘natural’ to appeal to the growing health conscious consumer, and are also marketed as versatile, so that these products may be used for cooking meals other than sushi. The addition of these products not only diversified the supermarkets’ product selection, but also familiarized the mainstream consumer with traditional Japanese ingredients so that they may enjoy Japanese cuisine at home. AFC’s push to produce these products and enter them into the mainstream market reveals the ways in which this company, along with companies alike, pioneered the popularization of Japanese food in America, and thereby its significant contribution to the development of American food culture.

A first generation AFC pack of shoyu (soy sauce). This aluminum-made packet has the first generation AFC logo, the word NATURAL printed largely above, and the phrases “Naturally Brewed” and “No Preservatives” below to indicate the healthy nature of the product.
Description
A first generation AFC pack of shoyu (soy sauce). This aluminum-made packet has the first generation AFC logo, the word NATURAL printed largely above, and the phrases “Naturally Brewed” and “No Preservatives” below to indicate the healthy nature of the product. The back of the packet has a white background with red lettering of the word KIMLAN, and Japanese characters to its right. Underneath the characters reads "soy sauce" and NET 1/4 FL. OZ. The listed ingredients are water, soybeans, wheat, salt, and sugar, and the bottom of the packet reads the distributor’s name, GOLDEN ORCHID LTD, and their company address. The red arrow on corner of the front indicates where the packet should be torn.
Individual servings of soy sauce contained in aluminum packets, along with disposable chopsticks, are provided for customers purchasing pre-packaged sushi. The disposable nature of the clear sushi trays, chopsticks, and the soy sauce packets makes eating sushi convenient.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1980s
maker
unknown
ID Number
2012.3099.12
catalog number
2012.3099.12
nonaccession number
2012.3099
A first generation Tamari Soy Sauce bottle from the AFC Corporation.The bottle has a green lid, and is covered in a printed label that has a green background.
Description
A first generation Tamari Soy Sauce bottle from the AFC Corporation.
The bottle has a green lid, and is covered in a printed label that has a green background. The word "Premium" is printed in white lettering at the top of the label, and reads "Naturally Brewed", "Reduced Sodium*", "Tamari Soy Sauce", "Sushi/Sashimi Quality", and "Natural" in green, red, purple and black lettering. Underneath is the first generation AFC logo which consists of an image of two pieces of sushi. At the very bottom it reads NET 5 FL. OZ (148 mL). To the left of the front cover, there is a barcode. The right of the cover lists the Nutrition Facts, ingredients, and its distributor.
Soy sauce is made from fermented soybeans, and is an essential ingredient for many sauces, soups, and broths in Japanese cuisine, as well as a dipping sauce for sushi. Though similar in consistency and flavor, tamari has a higher concentration of soybeans than the traditional soy sauce, with little wheat content. Thus, tamari is less salty (25% less sodium), thicker and richer than the traditional soy sauce. The smoothness allows for this sauce to be used as a marinade for barbecues or seasoning for stir fry.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1980s
maker
Advanced Fresh Concepts Franchise Corp.
ID Number
2012.3099.18
catalog number
2012.3099.18
nonaccession number
2012.3099
Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation (AFC) provided shoyu (soy sauce) packets with their prepackaged sushi as a convenience for the costomer. This aluminum packet has “Natural” printed across the top and a Southern Tsunami logo below.
Description
Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation (AFC) provided shoyu (soy sauce) packets with their prepackaged sushi as a convenience for the costomer. This aluminum packet has “Natural” printed across the top and a Southern Tsunami logo below. The logo consists of a blue wave and “Southern Tsunami” printed in orange and green, and the packet explains, “Southern Tsunami is a trademark of AFC Corp.” on the bottom right. The bottom left corner reads “NO PERSERVATIVES NATURALLY BREWED”, indicating that the product is natural and healthy. The back of the packet has a white background with KIMLAN written in red, along with Japanese characters to its right. Underneath reads “soy sauce” and NET ¼ FL.OZ. Right below, the ingredients are listed: water, soybeans, wheat, salt, and the distributor’s name, GOLDEN ORCHIT LTC, is printed underneath.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
unknown
maker
unknown
ID Number
2012.3099.13
catalog number
2012.3099.13
nonaccession number
2012.3099

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