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Add Hot Water and Relax: Freeze-Dried Foods That Gently Soothe Your Busy Days

As mornings and evenings grow colder day by day, we find ourselves hunching our shoulders against the chill whenever we step outside. With work and year-end events piling up, the season tends to fly by in a blur. It’s also the time of year when we want to take extra care of our health.

In such busy days, even a few minutes of relaxation can make a difference. With just a pour of hot water, the fragrant steam from a freeze-dried soup or miso soup fills the air, bringing warmth and comfort to your winter routine. These are small "treats" that help restore balance to both body and mind.

"A Spoonful of Enjoy for Your Life" is here to bring you small but enriching touches to make everyday life a little more fulfilling.

This time, together with Takimoto from Seven & i Holdings, we explore simple ways to enjoy the comfort and nourishment that freeze-dried foods can bring to your everyday life.

Authentic Flavor, Just by Adding Hot Water

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The Onion Soup has been gradually transitioning to new packaging since October 27.

One of the charms of Seven Premium’s freeze-dried products is their wide variety. From Japanese to Western to Chinese flavors, you can choose according to your mood and how you feel that day.
They also have a long shelf life, making them great to keep on hand for whenever you need them.

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"Having something warm and soothing makes any meal feel more satisfying.
What I love about Seven Premium’s freeze-dried foods is the variety—you can pick whatever suits your meal or occasion. My whole family loves them, and since they have a long shelf life, we always keep about five packs as rotating stock at home."

Warm Up, Morning and Night

Even a body warmed under the blankets feels a chill as it meets the cold morning air…On winter mornings like these, nothing is more comforting than a bowl of soup that warms you from the inside out.

The "Freeze-Dried Onion Soup" (127 yen tax included) is made with three types of domestically sourced onions, each sautéed to a different degree. The result is a rich, deeply layered flavor packed with umami. A hint of cheese adds an appetizing aroma, and when paired with bread, it makes for a satisfying breakfast to start your day.

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The Onion Soup has been gradually transitioning to new packaging since October 27.

Takimoto

Takimoto

The soup is rich with the natural sweetness of onions, and the tender yet pleasantly textured onion pieces make it especially satisfying. Adding rice, cheese, and a sprinkle of black pepper to turn it into a risotto-style dish is my go-to winter breakfast.

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For those who prefer a lighter breakfast, the "Freeze-Dried Tofu & Egg Soup" (127 yen, tax included) is a great choice. Made with bonito broth and domestically sourced suji aonori—known as the "king of aroma" among seaweeds—it offers a slightly luxurious flavor. Once you pour in hot water, a rich, briny fragrance gently rises, and you can enjoy the smooth, silky texture of the tofu as well.

Of course, freeze-dried foods aren’t just for breakfast — they’re also perfect for adding a little something extra to your lunch or dinner. Preparing a soup from scratch can feel like a hassle, yet you still crave something warm on the side. In those moments, freeze-dried options really come in handy.

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The "Freeze-Dried Egg Drop Soup" (127 yen, tax included) features domestically sourced eggs, prepared with a unique method that creates a fluffy, silky texture. It’s a comforting addition to any Chinese-style meal. With the umami of bonito and kelp, it offers a gentle, Japanese-style flavor, and the colorful ingredients—egg, mitsuba (Japanese parsley), shiitake mushrooms, and green onions—make it visually appealing as well.

Takimoto

Takimoto

You’ll probably be surprised by how many ingredients are packed inside. Its simple, gentle flavor makes it easy to pair with Japanese, Western, or Chinese dishes — another great plus.

For the Year-End Rush: A Gentle, Reduced-Salt Option

December brings festive events like Christmas and year-end parties.
As the end of the year approaches, the excitement builds — and before you know it, you may find yourself eating and drinking a little more than usual.

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For those who start feeling the effects of frequent dining out, the reduced-salt varieties are a gentle way to give your body a break.

The "Freeze-Dried Reduced-Salt Six-Vegetable Miso Soup" (149 yen, tax included) is packed with six types of vegetables—spinach, komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach), carrot, cabbage, burdock, and green onion—making it an easy way to get a healthy boost of nutrients.

The crisp texture and nutritional value of the vegetables are preserved thanks to the freeze-drying process, which dries them without applying high heat.
The vegetables, white miso, and broth blend together beautifully, creating a soothing, comforting bowl.

Takimoto

Takimoto

Packed with hearty chunks of vegetables, this soup instantly makes your meal feel more balanced. The vegetables have a satisfying texture, so even though it’s a soup, it feels like adding a full side dish. And interestingly, the flavor of the freeze-dried miso is often even better than that of cup-type miso. It’s the kind of miso soup you’ll want to enjoy with lunch at home, or alongside a light evening meal.

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On slower, more relaxed mornings, it’s nice to take time to "eat properly" and reset your body. For a little change of pace, why not enjoy a miso soup with yuba?

The "Freeze-Dried Reduced-Salt Miso Soup with Clams and Yuba" (149 yen, tax included) offers a luxurious combination of silky yuba and the bright aroma of yuzu. With plenty of ingredients like clams and spinach, it’s a bowl that satisfies both body and soul.

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Made with domestic soybeans, the fresh yuba adds a satisfying accent.

Enjoy Freeze-Dried Foods Even on Low-Appetite Days

As the year-end approaches, work tends to pile up, and people often end up going home late at night.… Fatigue starts to build, and there are days when you just don’t feel much like eating. On those days, it’s a relief to have something light, easy to eat, and gentle on the stomach.

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The "Freeze-Dried Nyumen" (192 yen, tax included) is appealing for its smooth texture that goes down easily. Made with bonito and kelp broth and finished with green onions, it offers a simple yet refined flavor that gently soothes a tired body.

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When your appetite begins to return, try the "Freeze-Dried Red Salmon Zosui" (203 yen, tax included). The umami of red salmon melts into a bonito and kelp broth, creating a gentle yet satisfying flavor. Made with domestic Koshihikari rice, flaked red salmon, egg, and spinach, each spoonful warms you from the inside out.

Takimoto

Takimoto

This is another item you’ll want to keep in your pantry! The flavor of the red salmon melts into the broth, making it gentle yet still satisfying. It’s something I rely on when I want to take care of my own body, and it’s also incredibly helpful when my child comes down with a cold.

So Many Ways to Enjoy: Expanding the Possibilities of Freeze-Dried Foods

Freeze-dried soups, infused with the natural flavors of their ingredients, are surprisingly versatile for cooking. They add depth without the need for additional seasonings, making it easy to broaden the range of dishes you can create with minimal effort.

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For example, try making seasoned rice by cooking umami-rich salmon together with the "Freeze-Dried Onion Soup" (127 yen, tax included).

The aroma of sautéed onions and the savory richness of cheese blend perfectly with the soft salmon and rice, creating a dish that is both comforting and satisfying.

Ingredients (Serves 1)
* 1 packet Seven Premium Freeze-Dried Onion Soup
* 1 piece salmon
* Carrot, to taste (about a 5 cm piece)
* Shimeji mushrooms, to taste (about 1/4 pack)
* Salt, to taste
* 1 teaspoon sake
* 1 cup uncooked rice

Instructions
1. Rub salt over the salmon and let it sit for about 5 minutes. (If using salted salmon, you can skip this step.)
2. Finely chop the carrot. Remove the stems from the shimeji mushrooms and break them into bite-sized pieces by hand.
3. Gently pat the salmon dry with a paper towel.
4. Rinse the rice and place it in the rice cooker. Add water up to the indicated line.
5. Add the sake, followed by the carrot, shimeji mushrooms, freeze-dried onion soup packet, and salmon. Cook as usual.

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In the midst of busy days, it’s important to make time for meals that nourish both your body and mind. Freeze-dried foods can gently support you in those moments. Pour in hot water, inhale the rising steam and aroma, and take a slow, relaxing pause. Why not enjoy these small, comforting moments with a freeze-dried soup or miso soup?

"A Spoonful of Enjoy for Your Life" will continue to bring you small, heartwarming ideas that add comfort and joy to your daily routine.

Stay tuned for the next edition.

Easy Stockpiling That Starts with “Maybe I Should Buy One More”

Easy Stockpiling That Starts with “Maybe I Should Buy One More”

For those who tend to put off disaster preparedness, “Stock rotation” is an easy and sustainable way to start. In this article, Nakazawa from Seven-Eleven Japan’s Risk Management Office and our editorial member Mezamē introduce a method of stockpiling that can be incorporated naturally into everyday life.

This text has been translated using an automatic translation tool.

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