Food · Fermented foods
Fuki-no-tō (Butterbur Scape)
ふきのとう (Fuki-no-tō)
Also known as: Fuki-no-tō, Butterbur scape, Petasites japonicus flower bud, 蕗の薹
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| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| Japanese labeling name | ふきのとう |
| Common Japanese notations | ふきのとう, 蕗の薹, フキノトウ |
| Origin | Flower buds of Petasites japonicus (the same plant as fuki); the early-spring flower scape harvested before unfurling; principal modern domestic cultivation in Akita and Tohoku regions; one of the earliest spring-arrival foods, often the first sansai of the season |
| Typical functions | Spring sansai signature — first sansai of the year, Tempura ingredient, Fukinoto-miso (butterbur-bud miso) — premium specialty, Bitter-aromatic spring kaiseki accent |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Standard agricultural product labeling. Note: fukinoto contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids requiring proper processing. Spring seasonal positioning. Not a designated allergen. |
Fuki-no-tō (ふきのとう / 蕗の薹) — the flower scape of Petasites japonicus (same plant as fuki) — is one of Japan's most celebrated spring sansai, often regarded as the first sansai of the year. The OEM positioning is exclusively premium spring specialty: as a tempura ingredient (defining tempura-vegetable category), as fukinoto-miso (butterbur-bud miso, premium specialty preserve), and as a bitter-aromatic spring kaiseki accent. Critical safety: like fuki, fukinoto contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids requiring proper processing.
Classification
Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.
Product applications
Functions
Regulatory tags
Origin
Used in (typical product categories)
Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.
- Fresh fukinoto (very brief spring season, February-April)
- Fukinoto-miso retail
- Frozen fukinoto
What it is
Fukinoto is the flower bud of Petasites japonicus, harvested before unfurling. Distinctive bitter-aromatic flavor.
Typical uses in Japanese products
Tempura — canonical sansai application.
Fukinoto-miso — sweet-savory miso paste with chopped fukinoto.
Spring kaiseki accent.
For OEM: fresh fukinoto retail (spring seasonal), fukinoto-miso production OEM.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Standard food labeling. Pyrrolizidine alkaloid processing required. Not a designated allergen.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Niche specialty / regulatory considerations. |
|---|---|
| USA | Niche specialty positioning. |
| China | Niche specialty positioning. |
| Korea | Niche specialty positioning. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after verification of regional origin.
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Sharing similar functions
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From the same origin
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References
- MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — ふきのとう
Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.