Sansho powder

Sansho powder is a Japanese seasoning powder made from the ground berries of the prickly ash tree. The powder has a peppery-lemon flavor with a long residual heat.  Sansho powder is used to season sushi as well as various Japanese noodle dishes.

Where To Buy

You can purchase sansho powder in most any Asian market.  One of the most prominent brands is S&B.  You can buy this online at Amazon.com: Sansho Pepper Powder.

Substitute For Sansho Powder

If you don't have sansho powder then you can use one of these substitutes:

• The best substitute is Sichuan (szechuan) pepper if you happen to have it. You should use equal amounts.
• OR - Our second best option is to use lemon pepper.  While it lacks the same residual heat it is a reasonable replacement for the flavor and probably easier to find.
• OR - Mix 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper with 1/2 teaspoon of fresh lemon zest.