Japan Ingredient Sourcing
Raw material / 原材料Beverage ingredients

Amazake (Sweet Koji Beverage)

甘酒 (Amazake)

fermentation-heritageffc-accepted
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Why now · 2023 — ongoing

Amazake: The Non-Alcoholic Rice Drink Targeting the Sugar-Reduction Movement

Amazake (甘酒) is positioned as a natural sweetener and probiotic drink in overseas wellness markets. Two distinct production methods, distinct regulatory categories.

Read the trend report

Why source from Japan

Amazake is a traditional Japanese sweet beverage made by fermenting rice with rice koji.

Key spec

MOQ from 50–200 L (bottled) / 20–50 kg (concentrate).

Typical end-product

Premium non-alcoholic breakfast and wellness beverages — Naturally sweet, no-added-sugar Japanese breakfast drink, sold in 100–250 mL single-serve bottles in chilled retail.

At a glance

Suppliers listed
4 suppliers
Typical MOQ
50–200 L (bottled) / 20–50 kg (concentrate)
Typical lead time
4–8 weeks (shelf life consideration)
Regions of origin
Nationwide; specialty in sake-producing areas (Niigata, Hyōgo, Hiroshima)
Category
Beverage ingredients
Harvest season
Year-round (koji fermentation)
Japan regulatory status
Food Sanitation Act (non-alcoholic variant)
Japanese name
甘酒
Romaji
Amazake

About this ingredient

Amazake is a traditional Japanese sweet beverage made by fermenting rice with rice koji. Koji enzymes convert rice starch to glucose, producing a naturally sweet, non-alcoholic drink. A separate variant made from sake lees contains low alcohol. Hakkaisan Brewery's 'Kōji dake de tsukutta Amasake' (FFC notification I290) is Japan's first koji-based beverage with dual functional claims via A. oryzae HJ1 strain and koji-derived glucosylceramide. Modern positioning includes 'drinking IV drip' (nomu tenteki) health-food claims.

Regulatory status

JapanFood Sanitation Act (non-alcoholic variant)
EUFood import
United StatesGenerally recognized as food
ChinaVerify

FAQ for OEM buyers

Q. What forms is amazake supplied in for B2B procurement?

Three common forms: (1) RTD bottled / pouched amazake (200–500 mL retail or 1.8 L bulk), (2) koji-only paste / concentrate (for further dilution by the brand owner), and (3) spray-dried amazake powder for use as ingredient in confectionery and bars. Industry-typical MOQ ranges 50–200 L for liquid and 20–50 kg for concentrate / powder, with 4–8 week lead times — shelf life of fresh amazake is short and refrigerated logistics may be needed.

Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26

Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source

Q. Should I source koji-only or sake-kasu amazake for export?

For most export use cases — children's beverages, daily breakfast drinks, restaurant supply in non-alcohol markets — koji-only (non-alcoholic) amazake is the safer choice. It avoids alcohol-import licensing, simplifies labeling, and broadens the consumer base (children, pregnant consumers, alcohol-restricted markets including Muslim-majority countries). Sake-kasu amazake retains a richer, more savory profile preferred by some product positioning, but requires alcohol-import compliance.

Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26

Q. What COA, certification, and shelf-life specs matter?

Key COA parameters: alcohol content (critical — confirm <1% if labelling non-alcoholic), Brix / sugar profile, pH, moisture (for powder), microbiological limits (especially yeast/mold given fermentation product), heavy metals, and pesticide residues if claiming organic. Shelf life is typically 60–90 days refrigerated for liquid amazake and 12–18 months for spray-dried powder. JAS Organic and koji-strain documentation (e.g., A. oryzae HJ1 strain for FFC claims) should be requested where relevant.

Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26

Q. Can amazake be co-positioned for cosmetic use?

Yes — fermentation-derived 'rice ferment filtrate' / 'amazake ferment' INCI / JSCI names are listed in the EU CosIng database and used in skincare and haircare formulations. Several Japanese sake breweries (Hakkaisan, Kanemoto, etc.) supply both food-grade amazake and cosmetic-grade fermentation extracts under the same company brand. For cosmetic use, the product is supplied as a separately-specified preparation and is not the same as the drinkable beverage.

Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26

Use cases

  • Premium non-alcoholic breakfast and wellness beverages

    Positioning
    Naturally sweet, no-added-sugar Japanese breakfast drink, sold in 100–250 mL single-serve bottles in chilled retail.
    Formulation notes
    Koji-only amazake; pasteurized for shelf-stable variants. Combine with ginger, yuzu, or kuromitsu for seasonal flavor variants.

    Sources

  • FFC-notified functional skincare beverages

    Positioning
    Skin-moisture support functional beverages, leveraging FFC-notified strains (e.g., A. oryzae HJ1) and koji-derived glucosylceramide.
    Formulation notes
    Verify the specific FFC notification text and required dosage; only manufacturers with notified products may use the FFC mark and accompanying claim language.

    Sources

  • Natural sweetener for desserts and confectionery

    Positioning
    Replacement for refined sugar in 'no added sugar' wagashi, ice cream, and bakery products, leveraging amazake's intrinsic glucose.
    Typical usage level
    10–30% of total liquid in dessert formulation as a sugar substitute.

    Sources

    Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source

  • Fermentation-positioned skincare (toners, essences, sheet masks)

    Positioning
    Japanese fermentation heritage skincare lines, where amazake-derived rice ferment filtrate provides a story alongside sake / sake lees / rice bran ingredients.
    Typical usage level
    1–10% of cosmetic-grade ferment extract in finished formulation, depending on positioning.

    Sources

Looking for alternatives?

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Japanese suppliers

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Information shown — including company details, product descriptions, regions of origin, minimum order quantities, lead times, certifications, and regulatory references — is compiled primarily from publicly available sources and manufacturer websites. Specifications change without notice; buyers are expected to verify current specifications, pricing, certification status, and regulatory compliance directly with each manufacturer before placing orders or signing contracts.

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Last updated: 2026-04-24

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