The Same Excitement and Nerves
Today, this is not a post introducing a product; I am writing because I want to let our customers know what has been in my heart lately. In Siberia right now, the harvesting of raw material for a new chaga mushroom extract powder product is in full swing. Every time I contact our partner company on the ground, I repeat the same questions — how is the raw material, is the harvesting going smoothly? I have done this work for 22 years and made products dozens of times, yet whenever I prepare a new product, anticipation and nervousness still come over me all at once. And this time, the excitement is especially great.
What It Means to Keep to Principles
There is something I want to say first, before talking about the new product. The product currently on sale was made in the dead of winter early this year. The quality of the raw material at that time was so outstanding that we bought far more raw material than usual and made the product with it. The somewhat large quantity was a burden, but there was no telling when we would encounter material like this again, and I did not like the thought that another company might use it if we did not buy it all. Thanks to that, we were able to send good products to many people for a long time.
However, thanks to so many people's support, our stock has now run tight. Every evening I check the remaining quantity and hope it holds out until the new product arrives. I worry a great deal that the schedule might be delayed.
Actually, we had planned production this summer as well. If we had made it then, we would be at ease now with no worries about stock. But we judged that the raw material quality did not meet our standards and decided not to make it. It was not an easy decision, and I even asked myself alone whether that choice was right. But I could not put out a product bearing my name made with raw material I had doubts about.
Why We Waited for Winter
Winter in Siberia begins in November and continues until April of the following year. In mid-October the temperature is above freezing during the day, but once the sun sets it drops sharply below zero. To endure this long winter, the chaga mushroom stores plenty of nutrients in its body. This period, just before winter, is the best time for harvesting chaga raw material. That is why we did not move the harvest date earlier even when we were anxious with stock running tight. Because waiting a little longer means meeting slightly better raw material.
The partner company now managing the harvest site has sent us welcome news that this raw material is truly worth looking forward to. They say its tissue is very dense and its condition is extremely good. The harvest timing is exactly the moment we waited for. If we are lucky, we expect there is a high chance this product will be the best among all the products we have made so far.
We Will Make the Best Product
Of course, sorting, manufacturing, and personally checking the finished product still remain. So I will not prejudge the result. But as my expectations are high, I will examine things all the more carefully. Rather than relaxing in the joy of meeting good raw material, I feel more strongly the responsibility to capture the value of this raw material fully in the product. If some part falls short of expectations along the way, I will not rush. Even if it takes longer, I will make only products that meet our principles.
If harvesting and sorting are completed and manufacturing at the Altai and Tomsk plants proceeds smoothly, we expect to be able to introduce the new product around early December at the earliest. Since the raw material comes from nature, the schedule may shift slightly.
Siberian nights are already cold, but even at this hour, harvesting of chaga raw material is under way in the forest. We will take responsibility to the end and make the best product. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time. Thank you.
- Kinam Oh, kinam_oh@hanmail.net
