Food · Fermented foods
Shirouri (Oriental Pickling Melon)
しろうり (Shirouri)
Also known as: Shirouri, Shiro-uri, Oriental pickling melon, Cucumis melo var. conomon, 白瓜, 越瓜
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| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| Japanese labeling name | しろうり |
| Common Japanese notations | しろうり, 白瓜, 越瓜, シロウリ |
| Origin | Oriental pickling melon (Cucumis melo var. conomon); cultivated for pickling rather than fresh eating; principal domestic regions Aichi, Gunma, Saitama; defining ingredient for Nara-zuke (Nara sake-lees pickle) |
| Typical functions | Nara-zuke (奈良漬け) — defining sake-lees pickle, Nara prefectural specialty, Kasu-zuke variations across regions, Asazuke (light pickle) summer-vegetable preparation, Niche fresh consumption (rare) |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Standard agricultural product labeling. Pickle-producer raw material. Not a designated allergen. |
Shirouri (しろうり / 白瓜 / 越瓜) is the oriental pickling melon (Cucumis melo var. conomon). Defining ingredient for **Nara-zuke** (Nara sake-lees pickle) — Japan's most prestigious sake-lees pickle. Aichi, Gunma volume regions.
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Classification
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Product applications
Functions
Regulatory tags
Origin
Common OEM product categories
Finished-product categories where Japanese OEM manufacturers commonly formulate with this ingredient.
- Fresh shirouri B2B raw material (pickle producer ingredient)
- Nara-zuke retail finished product
- Foodservice pickle assortment
Ingredient profile
Cucumis melo var. conomon pickling-grade melon.
OEM applications
Nara-zuke sake-lees pickle (Nara specialty).
Kasu-zuke regional variations.
Asazuke summer light-pickle.
For OEM: Nara-zuke production B2B, foodservice pickle pack.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Standard food labeling. Origin disclosure. Not a designated allergen.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Niche specialty in Japanese-cuisine channels. |
|---|---|
| USA | Niche specialty positioning. |
| China | Cultivated as 越瓜 in Chinese cuisine. |
| Korea | Limited culinary use. |
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Quick answers
- What is Shirouri (Oriental Pickling Melon)?
- Shirouri (しろうり / 白瓜 / 越瓜) is the oriental pickling melon (Cucumis melo var. conomon). Defining ingredient for **Nara-zuke** (Nara sake-lees pickle) — Japan's most prestigious sake-lees pickle. Aichi, Gunma volume regions.
- What is the regulatory status of Shirouri (Oriental Pickling Melon) in Japan?
- Standard agricultural product labeling. Pickle-producer raw material. Not a designated allergen.
- What products typically use Shirouri (Oriental Pickling Melon)?
- Fresh shirouri B2B raw material (pickle producer ingredient) / Nara-zuke retail finished product / Foodservice pickle assortment
- Where does Shirouri (Oriental Pickling Melon) come from?
- Oriental pickling melon (Cucumis melo var. conomon); cultivated for pickling rather than fresh eating; principal domestic regions Aichi, Gunma, Saitama; defining ingredient for Nara-zuke (Nara sake-lees pickle)
- What is the INCI / JSCI labeling name for Shirouri (Oriental Pickling Melon)?
- JSCI: しろうり
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References
- 文部科学省 (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) Standard Tables of Food Composition — しろうり
Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.