Food · Fermented foods

Sanbokan (Triple Bell Citrus)

さんぼうかん (Sanbōkan)

Also known as: Sanbokan, Triple bell citrus, Citrus sulcata, 三宝柑

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At a glance

CategoryFood
Japanese labeling nameさんぼうかん
Common Japanese notationsさんぼうかん, 三宝柑
OriginSanbokan citrus (Citrus sulcata); native to Wakayama Arida; principal production region Wakayama; very small-volume specialty
Typical functionsPremium kaiseki citrus, Hollow-rind cuisine presentation (sanbokan-tsutsumi)
Regulatory status in JapanStandard agricultural product labeling. Wakayama specialty. Not a designated allergen.

Sanbokan (さんぼうかん / 三宝柑) is a Wakayama specialty citrus with distinctive shape (described as resembling a triple-bell offering tray). The OEM positioning is exclusively premium kaiseki specialty: as the hollow rind serves as a vessel for kaiseki cuisine presentations (sanbokan-tsutsumi).

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 sanbokan (limited regional supply)

What it is

Citrus sulcata native to Wakayama Arida area.

Typical uses in Japanese products

Kaiseki presentation vessel.

Premium citrus retail.

For OEM: kaiseki and traditional Japanese cuisine specialty.

Regulatory classification in Japan

Standard food labeling. Wakayama specialty. Not a designated allergen.

Regulatory classification in other markets

EUNiche specialty positioning.
USANiche specialty positioning.
ChinaNiche specialty positioning.
KoreaNiche specialty positioning.

Example products

Example finished products will be added after verification.

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Related ingredients

References

  1. MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — さんぼうかん

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

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