Awamori Distillation Extract
泡盛エキス (Awamori Ekisu)
Why source from Japan
Awamori's 600-year Okinawan heritage and unique black-koji profile (citric-acid pathway) yield active fractions sake-derived materials cannot reproduce.
Key spec
Alcohol-removed cosmetic grade; peptide / organic-acid profile reflects black-koji fermentation (citric, ferulic, etc.).
Typical end-product
Okinawa-positioned cosmetic moisturisers, traditional-craft retail, premium hospitality amenity lines.
At a glance
- Suppliers listed
- 2 suppliers
- Typical MOQ
- 1–10 L; 100 g – 1 kg powder
- Typical lead time
- 8–12 weeks
- Regions of origin
- Okinawa (Naha, Ishigaki, Miyako, Yonaguni)
- Category
- Okinawan longevity ingredients
- Harvest season
- Year-round (continuous fermentation cycles)
- Japan regulatory status
- JSCI listed for cosmetic ingredient grades; alcoholic-beverage status for the spirit itself
- Japanese name
- 泡盛エキス
- Romaji
- Awamori Ekisu
About this ingredient
Cosmetic-grade extract derived from awamori (Okinawan distilled spirit made from indica rice and black koji, Aspergillus awamori). Black koji's distinctive citric-acid metabolism and the long-aging tradition (kūsu, 3+ years) of awamori produce an active-ingredient profile with peptides, organic acids, and koji-specific metabolites distinct from sake-derived materials. Okinawan distilleries — concentrated in Naha, Ishigaki, and Miyako — produce both the awamori itself and the cosmetic-grade upcycled extracts.
Regulatory status
| Japan | JSCI listed for cosmetic ingredient grades; alcoholic-beverage status for the spirit itself |
|---|---|
| EU | CosIng evaluation per specific extract |
| United States | MoCRA for cosmetic use; alcohol-content disclosure if relevant |
| China | NMPA cosmetic NCI consideration |
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
Awamori Distillation Extract is animal-derived. If you need a non-animal source with similar functions, consider:
Sake Extract
日本酒エキス
INCI Sake Extract (cosmetic) — JSCI ingredient; MOQ from 10–30 kg (cosmetic extract) / 50–500 L (bulk for food use).
Plant-based· shares 3 categories
Gettō (Shell Ginger)
月桃
INCI Alpinia Zerumbet Leaf Extract; MOQ from 100 ml – 1 L (essential oil); 1-10 kg (dried leaves).
Plant-based· shares 3 categories
Japanese Bamboo Charcoal
日本産竹炭
Phyllostachys edulis (Moso Bamboo); Hachiku Bamboo source; MOQ from 100g – 1kg (retail); 500g – 10kg+ (B2B wholesale).
Plant-based· shares 3 categories
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Japanese suppliers
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Last updated: 2026-05-05