What is a GI product?
A Geographical Indication (GI) product is a type of intellectual property that signifies a product's specific geographical origin and its association with certain qualities, characteristics, or reputation derived from that location. It serves as a certification or indication that a product has distinct attributes or qualities due to its origin in a particular geographical area.
The purpose is to protect the reputation and distinctiveness of products associated with specific regions, preventing unauthorised use of their names and safeguarding consumers from misleading information. This protection ensures that consumers can trust the quality, authenticity, and unique characteristics of a product originating from a particular region!
Examples of Geographical Indication products include Champagne from the Champagne region of France, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese from Italy, Scotch whisky from Scotland, and Darjeeling tea from India.
UK vs Japan
Japan: Japan has a rich cultural and culinary heritage, and it has a wide range of GI products recognised both domestically and internationally. 120 GI products in total.
UK: The United Kingdom also has a diverse range of GI products that represent its regional specialties and traditional products. 94 GI products in total registered, according to GOV.UK.
Top 10 Products -
| Japan | UK |
| Kobe Beef | Scotch Whisky |
| Kyoto Matcha (Green Tea) | Stilton Cheese |
| Hokkaido Melons | Cornish Pasty |
| Yamagata Cherries | Melton Mowbray Pork Pie |
| Yubari King Melon | Jersey Royal Potatoes |
| Nagano Apples | Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar |
| Aomori Garlic | Cumberland Sausage |
| Echizen Washi (Traditional Paper) | Welsh Lamb |
| Seto Sometsuke (Japanese Porcelain) | West Country Farmhouse Cheddar |
| Nishio Matcha (Green Tea) | Cornish Clotted Cream |
Did you know?
Kobe Beef's Unique Treatment: Kobe beef is known for its exceptional quality, and the cattle are given special treatment. They are often fed a specific diet that includes beer and receive massages to enhance meat tenderness!
GI Product at SushiSushi: Hatcho Miso
Maruya Hatcho Miso - As used by our michelin starred customers.
"Hatcho Miso (also written Hatchō Miso) is a miso produced in Aichi Prefecture. It is distinguished from other varieties of miso by its deep red-brown colour and unique flavour, which is characterised by moderate acidity, strong umami, and bitterness and astringency.
Compared to other miso-producing areas, which use rice (or wheat) in addition to soybeans and salt as their main ingredients, Hatcho Miso is produced solely from soybeans and salt.
The characteristics of Hatcho Miso, namely its deep colour and moderate acidity, along with strong umami, bitterness and astringency--characteristics not found in miso produced elsewhere--emerged through the efforts of local craftsmen to adapt to the environmental conditions of Aichi Prefecture, which has humid summers that hasten the decomposition of soy beans during the miso aging process." - Japan Geographical Indicator Official Website
