Food · Fermented foods
Nazuna (Shepherd's Purse)
なずな (Nazuna)
Also known as: Nazuna, Shepherd's purse, Capsella bursa-pastoris, 薺, ぺんぺん草
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| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| Japanese labeling name | なずな |
| Common Japanese notations | なずな, 薺, ナズナ, ぺんぺん草 |
| Origin | Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris); wild-foraged spring sansai; one of the seven spring herbs (haru-no-nanakusa) for the traditional Nanakusa-gayu rice porridge eaten on January 7 |
| Typical functions | Nanakusa-gayu (seven-herb rice porridge) — January 7 ceremonial cuisine, Spring sansai foraging tradition |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Standard agricultural product labeling. Spring/January ceremonial positioning. Not a designated allergen. |
Nazuna (なずな / 薺) — shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) — is one of Japan's seven spring herbs (haru-no-nanakusa) used in the traditional Nanakusa-gayu (seven-herb rice porridge) eaten on January 7 for health and longevity. The OEM positioning is January seasonal Nanakusa-gayu kit retail (a substantial seasonal category produced by Otsuka Foods, Hakubaku, and others).
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.
- Nanakusa-gayu kit retail (December-January seasonal)
- Fresh nazuna (spring foraged, very limited)
What it is
Nazuna is Capsella bursa-pastoris, a wild Brassicaceae herb. One of the seven spring herbs.
Typical uses in Japanese products
Nanakusa-gayu — January 7 seven-herb porridge.
For OEM: Nanakusa-gayu kit retail (seasonal December-January).
Regulatory classification in Japan
Standard food labeling. Seasonal January positioning. Not a designated allergen.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Niche specialty positioning. |
|---|---|
| USA | Niche specialty positioning. |
| China | Niche specialty positioning. |
| Korea | Niche specialty positioning. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after verification of seasonal sourcing.
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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 — なずな
Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.