What is Gohan no Tomo?
Gohan no tomo literally means “rice’s companion”, and refers to the rice topping that is usually available in a Japanese home. It comes wet and stored in a glass bin or comes dry and stored in a sachet (called furikake), and used simply just by putting some amount of the gohan no tomo into a bowl of white rice.
The Taste
The gohan no tomo usually comes in a thick yet rich and savory taste that goes perfectly with white rice.
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The Flavors
Gohan no tomo has a very wide range of flavors. Each area, especially the countryside, has gohan no tomo made from local specialties, such as green onion gohan no tomo from Fukaya city in Saitama Prefecture, a city that is known for its delicious green onion, or beef tongue gohan no tomo from Sendai city in Miyagi Prefecture that is a specialty in the beef tongue dishes.
Gohan no tomo is a popular way to introduce the area to tourists and is easily found at the local supermarket especially the local michi no eki (roadside station), which mainly comes in a glass bin.
In the case of furikake, it is comparatively easier to find at almost all supermarkets and mostly comes in standard flavors which the Japanese used to eat every day.
Yukari, a famous red perilla furikake, is commonly available at local supermarkets.
Any Halal Gohan no Tomo?
Unfortunately, there is still no halal-certified gohan no tomo including the furikake, because most, for example, have a slight chicken content in the ingredients or doubtful ingredients, even though it looks safe, so it is highly important to check the ingredients before purchasing or asking the manufacturing company in advance.
See Also
Complete Guide to Identify Halal Products in Japan
Is Shoyu (Soy Sauce) Halal? Variety of Halal Shoyu in Japan
