Traditional · Kampo botanicals
Japanese Jujube
日本産ナツメ (Nihonsan natsume)
Also known as: Taisō (大棗), Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit, Domestic Japanese Jujube
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| Category | Traditional |
|---|---|
| Common Japanese notations | ナツメ, 棗, 大棗, 日本産ナツメ |
| Origin | Plant-derived (Ziziphus jujuba fruit, dried) |
| Typical functions | Kampo crude drug (大棗 / Taisō), Traditional supportive food, Functional food ingredient |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Crude drug listed in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia as 大棗 (Taisō). Food use is regulated under the Food Sanitation Act. |
Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba), known in Japan as natsume (棗 / ナツメ), is one of the most-used crude drugs in Kampo medicine and a traditional food fruit. Domestic Japanese jujube — distinguished by traceability and pesticide-free cultivation — is produced in only a handful of regions. Fukui Prefecture's Natsume district hosts Japan's largest grower, Natsume no Sato (棗の里農産), which operates approximately 4,000 trees across about 6 hectares and dedicates roughly 90% of its crop to the Kampo cultivar 大棗 (Taisō).
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Classification
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Product applications
Regulatory tags
Origin
Common OEM product categories
Finished-product categories where Japanese OEM manufacturers commonly formulate with this ingredient.
- Kampo formulations
- Dried fruit and tea blends
- Supplements (capsules, powders)
- Confectionery and seasonal foods
Ingredient profile
Japanese jujube is the dried, mature fruit of Ziziphus jujuba cultivated in Japan. The fruit contains saponins (jujubosides), flavonoids, polysaccharides, organic acids, and free amino acids; cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP are also reported constituents of the fruit.
In Kampo medicine the dried fruit is processed into the crude drug 大棗 (Taisō), which appears in many Kampo formulations including Kakkonto and Shōsaikoto. Beyond Kampo, the dried fruit is also consumed directly as food, used in tea blends, and processed into extracts and powders for supplement and beverage use.
OEM applications
In Kampo medicine, Taisō is used as a supportive constituent in formulations addressing tension, fatigue, and digestive function. In food applications, dried natsume is used in confectionery, simmered dishes, tea blends (often with goji and longan), and increasingly in modern wellness drinks and granolas.
Domestic Japanese material is differentiated from imported jujube by traceability, pesticide-free cultivation, and grower-controlled drying. Fukui's Natsume no Sato (founded 1998) is the largest single grower; smaller producers in Nara and Oita also supply domestic material. Pricing is materially higher than imported jujube and supply is limited.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Listed as the crude drug 大棗 (Taisō) in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia. Used as an ingredient of Kampo medicines licensed under the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act.
Food use of dried jujube fruit is regulated under the Food Sanitation Act. Use in supplements as a general health-food ingredient is permitted; functional claims require evaluation under the FFC or Tokuho frameworks.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Traditional food use of jujube fruit is established in the EU. Dried jujube is traded as a conventional food ingredient. Specific concentrated extracts may require Novel Food assessment. |
|---|---|
| USA | Jujube fruit is generally recognised as a conventional food ingredient. Used in dietary supplements under DSHEA and in tea and confectionery applications. |
| China | Jujube (大棗 / 红枣) is a long-established food and traditional medicine ingredient. Permitted as both food and traditional Chinese medicine raw material under NHC / SAMR lists. |
| Korea | Jujube (대추) is a long-established food ingredient permitted in conventional foods. Use in Korean traditional medicine is established. |
Market reference formulations
Example finished products will be added after each product's current full ingredient list has been verified against the grower or supplier listing.
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
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Quick answers
- What is Japanese Jujube?
- Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba), known in Japan as natsume (棗 / ナツメ), is one of the most-used crude drugs in Kampo medicine and a traditional food fruit. Domestic Japanese jujube — distinguished by traceability and pesticide-free cultivation — is produced in only a handful of regions. Fukui Prefecture's Natsume district hosts Japan's largest grower, Natsume no Sato (棗の里農産), which operates approximately 4,000 trees across about 6 hectares and dedicates roughly 90% of its crop to the Kampo cultivar 大棗 (Taisō).
- What is the regulatory status of Japanese Jujube in Japan?
- Crude drug listed in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia as 大棗 (Taisō). Food use is regulated under the Food Sanitation Act.
- What products typically use Japanese Jujube?
- Kampo formulations / Dried fruit and tea blends / Supplements (capsules, powders) / Confectionery and seasonal foods
- Where does Japanese Jujube come from?
- Plant-derived (Ziziphus jujuba fruit, dried)
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FAQ for OEM buyers
Q. What is the pharmacopoeia status of Japanese jujube?
The dried fruit is listed as the crude drug 大棗 (Taisō) in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia and is used as an ingredient of Kampo medicines licensed under the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act.
Q. What constituents are reported in Japanese jujube?
Reported constituents include saponins (jujubosides), flavonoids, polysaccharides, organic acids, and free amino acids; cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP are also reported constituents of the fruit.
Sources
- Source data — glossary_context.whatItIs
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Q. Which Kampo formulations contain Taisō (大棗)?
Taisō appears in many Kampo formulations including Kakkonto (葛根湯) and Shōsaikoto (小柴胡湯), where it is used as a supportive constituent.
Q. Can functional health claims be made for jujube products in Japan?
Use of dried jujube fruit as a general health-food ingredient is permitted, but functional claims require evaluation under the Foods with Function Claims (FFC) or Tokuho frameworks with brand-specific notification or approval.
Use cases
Kampo formulation crude drug (Taisō / 大棗)
- Positioning
- Pharmacopoeia-grade crude drug for licensed Kampo manufacturers
Dried fruit and tea blends
- Positioning
- Domestic-origin wellness tea blends (often with goji and longan) emphasising Fukui provenance
Sources
- Source data — glossary_context.typicalUses
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Capsule / powder supplement
- Positioning
- Daily-wellness supplement leveraging the traditional supportive-herb narrative
Sources
- Source data — glossary_context.atGlance.commonProductCategories
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Modern wellness drinks and granolas
- Positioning
- Contemporary wellness positioning combining domestic jujube with other traditional fruits
Sources
- Source data — glossary_context.typicalUses
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
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Official regulatory databases
External links to public Japanese / international regulatory authorities. We are not affiliated.
References
- Japanese Pharmacopoeia — 大棗 (Taisō) crude drug monograph
- Natsume no Sato (棗の里農産) — grower information, Fukui Prefecture
- 農林水産省 (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) — domestic crop statistics for jujube
Last updated: 2026-04-25. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.