Trails to Tsukiji

Kanten, sometimes called agar in English, is a gelling agent used in traditional Japanese sweets. Unlike gelatin, kanten is completely plant-based, and comes from one of Japan's most plentiful resources: seaweed! From confections that celebrate the seasons, to delicacies that combine Japanese and French cooking, to new applications in fields like medicine and nursing care, we dig deep into this wondrous ingredient.