Food · Fermented foods

Matsu-no-mi (Pine Nuts)

まつのみ (Matsu-no-mi)

Also known as: Matsu-no-mi, Pine nuts, Pinus species, 松の実, 松子

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At a glance

Category	Food
Japanese labeling name	まつのみ
Common Japanese notations	まつのみ, 松の実, マツノミ
Origin	Pine nuts (seeds of various Pinus species, principally Korean pine Pinus koraiensis); essentially all Japanese supply is imported (China is dominant source, with some Korean and Mediterranean Pinus pinea origin); domestic Japan production is negligible
Typical functions	Premium kaiseki and Japanese cuisine garnish, Pesto and pasta sauce ingredient (Italian-influenced applications), Premium baking and confectionery topping, Asian-influenced dessert ingredient (kuromi-no-utsuwa, Korean and Chinese-influenced cuisine)
Regulatory status in Japan	Standard food labeling. Imported origin (China dominant, some Korean and Mediterranean) disclosure appropriate. Pine nuts can cause 'pine mouth syndrome' (dysgeusia) in rare cases — a documented but transient condition. Pine nuts are not a designated allergen but tree-nut allergy considerations may apply.

Matsu-no-mi (まつのみ / 松の実) — pine nuts (seeds of various Pinus species) — is essentially imported in Japan (with negligible domestic production), supplied principally from China (dominant), with smaller quantities from Korea and Mediterranean (Pinus pinea). The OEM applications are diverse premium-positioned: as a kaiseki and traditional Japanese cuisine garnish, as a pesto and pasta sauce ingredient (Italian-influenced applications growing in Japanese cuisine), as a premium baking and confectionery topping, and as an Asian-influenced dessert ingredient. Quality and pricing vary substantially by origin — Chinese pine nuts are the volume cost-positioned supply; Korean pine nuts (Korean pine Pinus koraiensis) command quality premium; Mediterranean Pinus pinea is the European premium standard.

Classification

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Product applications

Functions

Flavoring

Regulatory tags

Culinary ingredient

Origin

Plant-derived

Used in (typical product categories)

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

Pine nut retail packs (various sizes, kitchen-format)
Premium pesto and pasta sauce ingredient supply
Topping for confectionery, ice cream, and pastries

What it is

Matsu-no-mi is the seed of various Pinus species. The Asian commercial standard is principally Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) and related Asian pines, with smaller quantities of Pinus pinea (Mediterranean stone pine) for European-positioned applications. The seed is small (5-15mm), elongated, with a creamy-yellow color and rich oily flavor.

Nutritionally, dry pine nuts per 100g provide 690 kcal, 14.6g protein, 68.2g fat (very high — pine nuts are among the highest-fat nuts), 13.1g carbohydrates. Mineral content includes K 580mg, Mg 240mg, Fe 5.6mg, Zn 6.9mg per 100g.

Industrial supply: 100% imported. Chinese supply dominates for cost-positioned applications. Korean pine nut supply is premium-positioned. Mediterranean Pinus pinea supplies premium European-cuisine-positioned applications.

Typical uses in Japanese products

Premium kaiseki and Japanese cuisine — pine nut garnish in chawanmushi, simmered dishes, and seasonal kaiseki presentations.

Italian-influenced pesto — major application for pine nuts globally, growing in Japanese culinary use.

Premium baking and confectionery topping — pine nut tarts, pine nut cookies, ice cream topping.

Asian fusion dessert — kuromi-no-utsuwa-style desserts, Korean and Chinese-influenced sweets.

For OEM: pine nut retail packs and ingredient supply, premium pesto sauce ingredient supply, and premium confectionery and bakery topping supply.

Regulatory classification in Japan

Standard food labeling. Imported origin disclosure (China / Korea / Mediterranean) is appropriate.

Pine nuts are not a designated allergen. Tree-nut allergy considerations may apply for sensitive consumers.

Pine mouth syndrome: rare transient dysgeusia documented after consumption — generally associated with specific batches. Not a regulatory disclosure requirement.

Regulatory classification in other markets

EU	Imported as pine nuts. Major established global category.
USA	Imported as pine nuts. Major established US category. Tree-nut allergen labeling considerations may apply.
China	China is major global pine nut producer. Established domestic market.
Korea	Korea is major Korean pine nut producer.

Example products

Example finished products will be added after verification of origin and target application.

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Related ingredients

Used in similar product applications

Other ingredients commonly used in the same finished-product families.

Sharing similar functions

Ingredients that overlap on functional benefit tags.

From the same origin

Other ingredients that share an origin classification.

References

MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — まつのみ各形態

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