Food · Fermented foods
Shii-no-mi (Japanese Castanopsis Nut)
しいの実 (Shii-no-mi)
Also known as: Shii-no-mi, Castanopsis nut, Sudajii, 椎の実, Castanopsis sieboldii
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| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| Japanese labeling name | しいの実 |
| Common Japanese notations | しいの実, 椎の実, シイノミ, スダジイ |
| Origin | Wild-foraged nut from Japanese Castanopsis trees (Castanopsis sieboldii / 'sudajii' is the most common species), traditional autumn forage food across Japan; modern volume is artisanal/foraging only — no commercial cultivation |
| Typical functions | Heritage autumn-foraging snack, Traditional roasted nut retail (regional specialty), Tourism / cultural-heritage retail |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Standard agricultural / wild-foraged labeling. Volume is artisanal — no industrial supply chain. Shii-no-mi is not a designated allergen. |
Shii-no-mi (しいの実) is the wild-foraged nut of Japanese Castanopsis trees (most commonly sudajii / Castanopsis sieboldii), eaten roasted as an autumn snack throughout Japanese history. The OEM positioning is exclusively heritage-foraging specialty: too small in volume for industrial supply, but valued in regional tourism, autumn cultural-heritage retail, and Western Japan / Kyushu specialty channels. The nut is roasted and eaten directly (similar to pine nut or premium chestnut style) with mild sweet, slightly tannic flavor.
Classification
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Product applications
Functions
Regulatory tags
Origin
Used in (typical product categories)
Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.
- Roasted shii-no-mi (regional retail in Kyushu, Western Japan)
- Heritage cultural-themed product OEM
What it is
Shii-no-mi is the acorn-like nut produced by Japanese Castanopsis trees (Castanopsis sieboldii is the most common species). The nut is small (1-1.5cm), dark brown when mature, with an edible kernel inside the shell. Wild-foraged in autumn (October-November) from natural shii forests across Western Japan.
Nutritionally similar to other tree nuts — moderate fat, protein, carbohydrate. No specific large-volume nutrition data given the artisanal scale.
Industrial supply: artisanal foraging only. No commercial cultivation. Volume is very small — primarily local autumn foraging tradition rather than commercial OEM input.
Typical uses in Japanese products
Roasted shii-no-mi snack — traditional autumn roasted nut, eaten directly.
Regional and cultural-heritage retail — Western Japan and Kyushu autumn specialty.
Tourism gift items in heritage-themed products.
For OEM: realistic only as cultural-heritage gift retail OEM with regional partnership; not viable for industrial-volume applications.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Standard food labeling. Wild-foraged origin disclosure appropriate.
Shii-no-mi is not a designated allergen.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Niche specialty if any; no established import channel. |
|---|---|
| USA | Niche specialty if any; no established import channel. |
| China | China has its own Castanopsis tradition; niche specialty. |
| Korea | Korea has its own Castanopsis tradition; niche specialty. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after verification of regional foraging origin and product format.
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FAQ for OEM buyers
Q. Is shii-no-mi viable for industrial OEM applications?
No — shii-no-mi is wild-foraged at artisanal scale only, with no commercial cultivation in Japan. The realistic OEM positions are limited to cultural-heritage gift retail, regional tourism products, and autumn-themed limited-edition specialty products. For industrial-volume nut applications, kuri (Japanese chestnut), kuri or other established nut categories are appropriate alternatives. Shii-no-mi is best understood as a heritage and cultural specialty rather than an industrial OEM input.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-28
- Editorial — Japan shii-no-mi production reference
References
- MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — しいの実
- Editorial — Japan Castanopsis (sudajii) traditional foraging reference
Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.