Why source from Japan
Iwate and Miyagi wild-harvest plus Mie aquaculture provide the world's most-developed Japanese-cultivar abalone supply; aged hoshi-awabi commands the highest per-gram pricing.
Key spec
Protein 18-22%; collagen-rich; taurine 750-950 mg/100g; mother-of-pearl shell upcycled to cosmetic-grade calcium carbonate.
Typical end-product
Sashimi-grade abalone export, hoshi-awabi for Chinese-market kaiseki, abalone-shell exfoliating cosmetics.
At a glance
- Suppliers listed
- 1 supplier
- Typical MOQ
- 10–50 kg fresh-frozen; 1–10 kg dried (hoshi-awabi); 5–25 kg shell powder
- Typical lead time
- 6–10 weeks (food); 14–20 weeks (dried hoshi-awabi)
- Regions of origin
- Iwate, Miyagi, Chiba (Boso), Mie (aquaculture), Wakayama
- Category
- Marine functional ingredients
- Harvest season
- April – August (wild); year-round (aquaculture)
- Japan regulatory status
- Food product; phytosanitary certificate for live; protected species in some regions (size limits)
- Japanese name
- 鮑 / アワビ
- Romaji
- Awabi
About this ingredient
Japanese coastal abalone — Haliotis discus hannai (Ezo abawbi, northern coastal) and H. gigantea (Madaka abalone, central / southern). Iwate, Miyagi, and Chiba dominate northern wild-harvest, while controlled aquaculture in Mie and Wakayama produces the majority of farmed supply. Domestic Japanese consumption focuses on sashimi-grade live, dried (hoshi-awabi for kaiseki), and increasingly canned for export. The shell mother-of-pearl (rakuden) is upcycled into cosmetic exfoliant powders and jewellery-craft inputs. Distinct from the existing scallop and other shellfish entries.
Regulatory status
| Japan | Food product; phytosanitary certificate for live; protected species in some regions (size limits) |
|---|---|
| EU | Food import; shellfish-allergen labelling; CITES not applicable |
| United States | GRAS; FDA Prior Notice; shellfish-allergen labelling |
| China | Imported live shellfish; GACC + AQSIQ live-shellfish inspection |
Looking for alternatives?
Common reasons buyers swap to a different ingredient — and what we'd suggest based on this ingredient's profile.
Vegan / plant-based alternatives
Japanese Abalone (Awabi) is animal-derived. If you need a non-animal source with similar functions, consider:
Sansho Pepper
山椒
Zanthoxylum piperitum source; INCI Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract; MOQ from 1–10 kg (dried peppercorn); 100 g – 5 kg (powder).
Plant-based· shares 3 categories
Wasabi Powder
山葵粉末
Wasabia japonica (Eutrema japonicum) source; INCI Wasabia Japonica Root Powder; MOQ from 1–10 kg (powder); 100 kg+ (bulk paste).
Plant-based· shares 3 categories
Shio Koji
塩麹
MOQ from 20–100 kg.
Plant-based· shares 3 categories
When does it make sense to swap an ingredient? Read the swap guide →
Japanese suppliers
Ihara Fisheries Co., Ltd.
井原水産株式会社
HokkaidoIwate / Miyagi wild-harvest abalone
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Last updated: 2026-05-05