Breakfast with Kikkoman

A delight of culinary diversity

The comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee that sweetens our morning, the warm and fluffy bread that comes fresh from the oven and the delicious honey, straight from the garden and from our own honey bees - a scenario that makes us start the day with a smile. This, or something similar, is a very typical morning in a German household. In other European countries however, it can look completely different. In Great Britain, for example, the tradition is to go for a very hearty breakfast with gallons of tea, while in Italy sweet pastries and espresso are served for breakfast. If we take a look at Japan, we find that fish and rice are the go-to breakfast - probably hard to imagine for most of us. But all our cultures have one thing in common – a love for indulgence!

What we take for granted today was very different a century ago. Food in general served the purpose of satisfying hunger. The concept of 'national cuisine' had only just emerged and these national dishes of the modern era were only accessible to the citizens of the upper class. There were many reasons for this, one was the lack of options, but it was also hardly affordable for the ordinary citizen to buy any fancy ingredients. Breakfast culture in Europe was kept extremely practical. For example in Germany milk soup or bread was the common breakfast, and often functioned as the meals for the rest of the day. The diet in Europe was generally still very much based on medieval norms and there was little significant difference among the poorer population, which made up the majority of the people. As in most countries, pastries such as bread were common in France. However, the French people started the day with a warming chicken or vegetable broth. In Norway, the harsh and cold climate meant that there was simply not much variety. However, it was important to the Norwegians that the children were well nourished despite the harsh circumstances. So the adults enjoyed simple food, while the children got a typical, so-called Oslo breakfast in the schools. This consisted of wholegrain bread with margarine, a slice of cheese, a glass of milk and half an apple and half an orange. Britain, on the other hand, was already known for its hearty English Breakfast. Due to its great colonial power, the British were the only ones with access to exotic ingredients and unusual spices. Nowadays, however, everyone in Europe generally can get hold of the most special ingredients to try some amazing combinations! We don't have to limit ourselves, we can adopt dishes from different cultures or even reinvent them and create alternatives.

Since digitalisation, our possibilities are evolving even more rapidly; more extreme and diversified than ever before! The boundaries to traditions are breaking down, especially for the younger generation. Social media has an effect on all aspects of our daily lives. The power of food bloggers and influencers is huge, every day we discover new ideas. From different ways of eating to celebrating our meals, food plays a more important role in our well-being than ever before.

So what better way to fulfill our desire for something a little different than with our soy sauce? Versatility is our passion, so we've created some new and exciting recipes for you to add some delicious twists to your breakfast! A popular trend is brunch! So how about combining the new recipes with a brunch in your own home, with your family or friends?