Food · Fermented foods
Hiyokomame (Chickpeas / Garbanzo Beans)
ひよこまめ (Hiyokomame)
Also known as: Hiyokomame, Chickpeas, Garbanzo beans, Cicer arietinum, ヒヨコマメ, ガルバンゾ, Chana
Looking for a Japanese supplier of Hiyokomame (Chickpeas / Garbanzo Beans)? Tell usAt a glance
| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| Japanese labeling name | ひよこまめ |
| Common Japanese notations | ひよこまめ, ひよこ豆, ヒヨコマメ, ガルバンゾ, チャナ |
| Origin | Chickpea (Cicer arietinum); not native to Japan, all supply imported (principally from Mexico, USA, Canada, India, Australia, Turkey); modern Japanese consumption growing with hummus, falafel, curry, and salad applications driven by globalization of Mediterranean and Indian cuisine influences |
| Typical functions | Hummus production — primary modern Japanese hiyokomame application, Falafel and Mediterranean cuisine ingredient, Indian curry (chana masala, chana dal) ingredient, Salad bean (bean salad, chickpea salad), Plant protein ingredient (emerging functional food) |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Standard agricultural product labeling. Imported origin (Mexico, USA, Canada, India, Australia, Turkey) disclosure required. Hiyokomame is not a designated allergen but legume allergies are documented. |
Hiyokomame (ひよこまめ) — chickpeas / garbanzo beans (Cicer arietinum) — is not native to Japan but has emerged as a growing OEM category driven by globalization of Mediterranean and Indian cuisine influences. The Japanese hummus market in particular has expanded substantially since approximately 2015, with major retailers (KALDI, Costco, premium supermarkets) carrying multiple hummus retail SKUs. The OEM applications include: hummus production (the primary modern Japanese hiyokomame application), falafel and Mediterranean cuisine ingredient, Indian-influenced curry (chana masala, chana dal — restaurants and home-cooking retail), salad bean applications, and chickpea flour for gluten-free bakery applications. All Japanese chickpea supply is imported (principally from Mexico, USA, Canada, India, Australia, Turkey). Domestic production is essentially zero — the climate is unsuitable for chickpea cultivation. For OEM positioning: the imported origin is the standard reality, and origin transparency (e.g., 'Mexican-origin chickpea hummus' or 'Indian-origin chana masala') is appropriate.
Find OEM manufacturers
Browse Japanese OEM manufacturers that build products in this category. Filter by small lot, certifications, prefecture.
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
Common OEM product categories
Finished-product categories where Japanese OEM manufacturers commonly formulate with this ingredient.
- Dry chickpea retail (small package sizes, growing category)
- Pre-cooked chickpea cans (the volume retail format)
- Hummus retail packs (rapidly growing Japanese market)
- Frozen pre-cooked chickpea ingredient supply
- Chickpea flour (gram flour / besan) for bakery and gluten-free applications
Ingredient profile
Hiyokomame is Cicer arietinum, the chickpea / garbanzo bean of Mediterranean and South Asian origin. The bean is round, beige-cream colored, with a distinctive 'beak' shape giving it the Japanese name 'hiyoko' (chick — the bean shape resembles a chick's head). The two principal global cultivars are: (1) Kabuli (the larger, lighter-colored chickpea, common in Mediterranean cuisine — Mexican, Spanish, Turkish supply); (2) Desi (the smaller, darker chickpea, common in Indian cuisine).
Nutritionally, dry chickpeas per 100g provide 336 kcal, 20.0g protein, 5.2g fat, 60.6g carbohydrates with 16.3g dietary fiber. Mineral content includes K 1200mg, Mg 130mg, P 270mg, Fe 4.8mg per 100g.
Industrial supply: 100% imported. Mexico is the volume leader for Kabuli chickpeas; USA, Canada, Australia provide additional Kabuli supply; India is the volume leader for Desi chickpeas with significant exports; Turkey and Spain provide premium Mediterranean-positioned Kabuli.
OEM applications
Hummus production — the primary modern Japanese hiyokomame application. Hummus retail has grown substantially since 2015, with KALDI, Costco, Seijo Ishii, and other premium retailers carrying multiple SKUs. Major brands include MeijiYa, Neo Foods, and imported brands.
Falafel and Mediterranean cuisine — Mediterranean restaurants in Japan use chickpeas extensively. Frozen falafel retail products are growing.
Indian curry — chana masala (chickpea curry) and chana dal (split chickpea dal) are core Indian cuisine items featured in Indian restaurants and home-cooking retail.
Salad bean — pre-cooked chickpeas for salad, bean salad mixes, and bowl-meal applications.
Chickpea flour (gram flour / besan) — used in gluten-free bakery, Indian-influenced bread (besan-based), and emerging Japanese gluten-free product development.
Plant protein and functional positioning — chickpea flour and chickpea protein are emerging in Japanese plant-protein product development.
For OEM: hummus production OEM (Japanese-market focus, with regional flavor variations), pre-cooked chickpea retail (cans, pouches), Indian curry ready-meal retail (chana masala), chickpea flour ingredient supply for bakery applications, and gluten-free product OEM.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Standard agricultural product labeling. Imported origin disclosure (Mexico / USA / Canada / India / Australia / Turkey) required.
Hiyokomame is not a designated allergen, but legume allergies and oral allergy syndrome reactions exist.
Hummus and chickpea retail product labeling: standard food labeling rules apply.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Imported as chickpeas. Major established global category. |
|---|---|
| USA | Imported and domestically produced. Major established US category, growing with health and Mediterranean trends. |
| China | Established Chinese chickpea market. |
| Korea | Growing chickpea market with Mediterranean cuisine influence. |
Market reference formulations
Example finished products will be added after verification of origin (Mexico / Canada / India / other), cultivar (Kabuli / Desi), product format (dry / pre-cooked / hummus / flour), and target application.
All brand names and product names referenced anywhere on this site are the property of their respective owners. Example entries are provided for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement.
Alternative ingredients
Related ingredients commonly evaluated as substitutes.
Quick answers
- What is Hiyokomame (Chickpeas / Garbanzo Beans)?
- Hiyokomame (ひよこまめ) — chickpeas / garbanzo beans (Cicer arietinum) — is not native to Japan but has emerged as a growing OEM category driven by globalization of Mediterranean and Indian cuisine influences. The Japanese hummus market in particular has expanded substantially since approximately 2015, with major retailers (KALDI, Costco, premium supermarkets) carrying multiple hummus retail SKUs. The OEM applications include: hummus production (the primary modern Japanese hiyokomame application), falafel and Mediterranean cuisine ingredient, Indian-influenced curry (chana masala, chana dal — restaurants and home-cooking retail), salad bean applications, and chickpea flour for gluten-free bakery applications. All Japanese chickpea supply is imported (principally from Mexico, USA, Canada, India, Australia, Turkey). Domestic production is essentially zero — the climate is unsuitable for chickpea cultivation. For OEM positioning: the imported origin is the standard reality, and origin transparency (e.g., 'Mexican-origin chickpea hummus' or 'Indian-origin chana masala') is appropriate.
- What is the regulatory status of Hiyokomame (Chickpeas / Garbanzo Beans) in Japan?
- Standard agricultural product labeling. Imported origin (Mexico, USA, Canada, India, Australia, Turkey) disclosure required. Hiyokomame is not a designated allergen but legume allergies are documented.
- What products typically use Hiyokomame (Chickpeas / Garbanzo Beans)?
- Dry chickpea retail (small package sizes, growing category) / Pre-cooked chickpea cans (the volume retail format) / Hummus retail packs (rapidly growing Japanese market) / Frozen pre-cooked chickpea ingredient supply / Chickpea flour (gram flour / besan) for bakery and gluten-free applications
- Where does Hiyokomame (Chickpeas / Garbanzo Beans) come from?
- Chickpea (Cicer arietinum); not native to Japan, all supply imported (principally from Mexico, USA, Canada, India, Australia, Turkey); modern Japanese consumption growing with hummus, falafel, curry, and salad applications driven by globalization of Mediterranean and Indian cuisine influences
- What is the INCI / JSCI labeling name for Hiyokomame (Chickpeas / Garbanzo Beans)?
- JSCI: ひよこまめ
Related ingredients — substitutes, pairings, processing chain
Often used with
Ingredients frequently paired in the same recipe or formulation.
Explore related ingredients
Used in similar product applications
Other ingredients commonly used in the same finished-product families.
Abura-age (Fried Thin Tofu)
油揚げ
Seasonings & saucesFermented foods
Agemaki (Jackknife Clam)
あげまき
Seasonings & saucesFermented foods
Ago Dashi (Flying Fish Stock)
あごだし
Seasonings & saucesFermented foods
Ahiru-niku (Domestic Duck)
あひる 肉
Seasonings & saucesFermented foods
Aigamo-niku (Hybrid Duck)
かも あいがも 肉
Seasonings & saucesFermented foods
Sharing similar functions
Ingredients that overlap on functional benefit tags.
From the same origin
Other ingredients that share an origin classification.
Related guides & how-to
Related case studies
Regulatory guidance
Take the next step
FAQ for OEM buyers
Q. Is the Japanese hummus retail category a viable OEM growth opportunity?
Yes — the Japanese hummus retail category has shown substantial growth since approximately 2015 and continues expanding. Drivers include: (1) Mediterranean cuisine globalization influence on Japanese consumer awareness; (2) Health-positioning trends favoring plant-protein and high-fiber products; (3) Premium retail (KALDI, Costco, Seijo Ishii, premium supermarket sections) carrying expanding hummus SKUs; (4) Snacking and 'dip' culture growth (hummus with vegetables, crackers, pita); (5) Major restaurant chains (Soup Stock Tokyo, Kura-zushi premium menu, etc.) featuring hummus-influenced items. For OEM positioning: hummus production OEM with Japanese-market-specific flavor variations (yuzu hummus, miso hummus, sesame hummus, wasabi hummus, etc.) is a growth opportunity; cost-positioned and premium positioning both have market share; private-label hummus production for retailers (Costco PB, supermarket PB) is a substantial volume opportunity; ingredient supply (pre-cooked chickpeas for foodservice and processed-food production) is a stable B2B opportunity. Origin transparency (Mexican-origin Kabuli is the standard hummus chickpea) is appropriate disclosure.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-28
- Editorial — Japan hummus retail growth analysis
Search the academic literature
Pre-filled queries for the major research databases. Opens in a new tab.
Official regulatory databases
External links to public Japanese / international regulatory authorities. We are not affiliated.
References
- 文部科学省 (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) Standard Tables of Food Composition — ひよこまめ
- Editorial — Japan hummus retail category growth reference
Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.