Bachan’s, the brand known for its Japanese barbecue sauce, launched something on Monday, Oct. 26, that isn’t a sauce at all. The company says it’s the first time it has made anything else, and it’s selling the new product at just one national grocery chain.
Founder and CEO Justin Gill said mayonnaise has always been a staple in his home. Growing up Japanese American and traveling through Japan, he said he knew its versatility could go “far beyond tuna salad and turkey sandwiches.” The key, he said, was making a mayo “so delicious that it inspires you to use it in new ways.”
3 Flavors at 1 Retailer
The company says Bachan’s Japanese Mayos are available exclusively at Whole Foods Market nationwide. Each comes in 11.2 fluid ounces, and the company makes it with free-range egg yolks and real rice vinegar.
Here’s how the company describes the three flavors:
- Original: “bold, balanced umami” with a silky, tangy taste.
- Spicy: a kick of cayenne heat.
- Black Garlic: aged, cured black garlic for subtle sweetness and deep umami.
From Barbecue Sauce to Mayo
Gill founded Bachan’s in 2013. He spent six years perfecting a family recipe before the company launched its Original Japanese Barbecue Sauce in 2019.
Gill said the mayos took more than four years of work. He added that he “couldn’t be more excited to finally launch” them and bring the flavor people love in the sauces into a whole new category.
Bachan’s says it cold-fills its sauces and condiments and uses non-GMO ingredients, without preservatives or artificial flavorings. Gill said people can use the mayos for dipping, drizzling, spreading and mixing.
Where to Find the Mayos
If you want to try the line, the company says Whole Foods is the only place to find it. Spicy brings cayenne heat, while Black Garlic leans on aged black garlic for subtle sweetness, so the flavor you pick depends on what you plan to dip or drizzle it on.