A product made with bittern (Kameyamado)

Treasure Chest of Minerals
As well as the main ingredient of magnesium chloride, bittern is said to contain about 80 types of minerals, including potassium, calcium, iron, selenium, and manganese. Previously it was only available at tofu shops and some department stores, but now bittern can be purchased in supermarkets and convenience stores, too. Various types are sold, including bittern extracted from seawater and a scientifically made product, and the price varies from a few hundred yen to a few thousand yen. The product that is selling well at the moment, however, is a 300-milliliter package that costs about ¥500 ($4.54 at ¥110 to the dollar).

There are various ways of using bittern. As a seasoning, bittern itself is rather bitter and not so tasty, so only a tiny amount needs to be used. Put a little into the rice cooker when cooking rice, and the rice comes out soft and shiny. Add a little to food that is being simmered, and the magnesium and potassium work to produce a mellow flavor.

In addition, since it was suggested at a meeting of the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity in November 2003 that bittern is effective in countering obesity, a lot of people are apparently adding a little to water or tea in the hope of trimming their waistlines. Bittern is also said to have a certain effect in relieving constipation and alleviating hay fever and atopic dermatitis.

And bittern is not limited to eating and drinking, either. It is also being used for dermatological purposes by putting it in bath water or making facial lotion. Many people claim that it softens the hard layer of the skin, eliminates dirt, and provides appropriate moisture.

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