Why source from Japan
Iwate Hiraizumi's hie-meshi tradition is uniquely Japanese; cold-tolerant cultivars survive in Tōhoku where rice cultivation is challenged.
Key spec
Protein 10-13%; dietary fibre 4-5%; gluten-free; characteristic small grain.
Typical end-product
Hie-mochi specialty confectionery, gluten-free baking, traditional-craft retail.
At a glance
- Suppliers listed
- 1 supplier
- Typical MOQ
- 10–25 kg dehulled; 5–25 kg flour
- Typical lead time
- 6–10 weeks
- Regions of origin
- Iwate (Hiraizumi), Akita, Aomori
- Category
- Food ingredients
- Harvest season
- August – September
- Japan regulatory status
- Food product; gluten-free
- Japanese name
- 稗
- Romaji
- 稗
About this ingredient
Japanese barnyard millet (Echinochloa esculenta), the most cold-tolerant of Japan's traditional millets and historically the staple grain of cold-mountain regions in Tōhoku. Modern cultivation is small but anchored in Iwate (Hiraizumi) and Akita. Functional positioning targets dietary fibre and minerals. The third member of Japan's millet trio (with awa and kibi). Distinct from existing rice and grain entries.
Regulatory status
| Japan | Food product; gluten-free |
|---|---|
| EU | Food import; gluten-free claim |
| United States | GRAS; gluten-free claim |
| China | GACC food facility registration |
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
Hie (Japanese Barnyard Millet) 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
Easier China regulatory path
Hie (Japanese Barnyard Millet) faces a more restrictive regulatory pathway in China. These alternatives have a simpler status in that market:
Sansho Pepper
山椒
Zanthoxylum piperitum source; INCI Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract; MOQ from 1–10 kg (dried peppercorn); 100 g – 5 kg (powder).
Simpler in China· 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).
Simpler in China· shares 3 categories
Shio Koji
塩麹
MOQ from 20–100 kg.
Simpler in China· shares 3 categories
When does it make sense to swap an ingredient? Read the swap guide →
Japanese suppliers
Disclaimer
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Last updated: 2026-05-05