Food · Fermented foods

Gobō (Burdock Root)

ごぼう (Gobō)

Also known as: Gobō, Burdock root, Arctium lappa, 牛蒡

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At a glance

CategoryFood
Japanese labeling nameごぼう 根
Common Japanese notationsごぼう, 牛蒡, ゴボウ
OriginBurdock root (Arctium lappa); principal modern domestic production regions Aomori, Ibaraki, Hokkaido; Japan is one of few countries that consume burdock root as standard vegetable
Typical functionsKinpira-gobō (sauteed burdock with carrot) — defining household side dish, Tataki-gobō (smashed burdock) — Osechi component, Soba/udon topping, Premium Horikawa-gobō Kyoto specialty (see horikawa-gobo entry)
Regulatory status in JapanStandard agricultural product labeling. Aomori volume leader. Not a designated allergen.

Gobō (ごぼう / 牛蒡) is burdock root — volume Japanese household ingredient with kinpira-gobō, tataki-gobō (Osechi), and soba/udon topping applications. Aomori is the volume domestic producer. Premium Horikawa-gobō Kyoto specialty for kaiseki (see horikawa-gobo entry).

Classification

Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.

Functions

Regulatory tags

Used in (typical product categories)

Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.

  • Fresh whole gobō retail (year-round)
  • Pre-cut frozen gobō (convenience format)
  • Pre-cooked kinpira-gobō ready-meal retail

What it is

Arctium lappa burdock root.

Typical uses in Japanese products

Kinpira-gobō defining household side.

Tataki-gobō Osechi.

Soba/udon topping.

For OEM: fresh retail, pre-cut convenience, ready-meal retail.

Regulatory classification in Japan

Standard food labeling. Origin disclosure. Not a designated allergen.

Regulatory classification in other markets

EUNiche specialty in Japanese-cuisine and macrobiotic channels.
USANiche specialty positioning.
ChinaEstablished Chinese burdock production.
KoreaEstablished Korean ueong tradition.

Example products

Example finished products will be added after verification.

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Related ingredients

References

  1. MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — ごぼう 根

Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.

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