Why source from Japan
Oita produces >95% of Japan's kabosu — concentrated cultivation, processing, and export infrastructure unique to the region.
Key spec
Citric acid 4-6%; juice yield 30-40% (higher than yuzu); aromatic terpenes lower than yuzu, rounder profile.
Typical end-product
Sashimi accent, dressing concentrate, fine-dining citrus garnish, citrus-positioned beverage.
At a glance
- Suppliers listed
- 2 suppliers
- Typical MOQ
- 100 L juice; 10–50 kg peel; 5–25 kg powder
- Typical lead time
- 6–10 weeks
- Regions of origin
- Oita (>95%)
- Category
- Food ingredients
- Harvest season
- August – October
- Japan regulatory status
- Food product; Oita regional brand
- INCI name
- Citrus Sphaerocarpa Fruit Extract
- Japanese name
- カボス
- Romaji
- カボス
About this ingredient
Sour citrus (Citrus sphaerocarpa) almost exclusively produced in Oita Prefecture (>95% of national volume). Harvested green for the signature sharp-acid juice; turns yellow in late season. Used as a sashimi accent, in vinegar-and-soy dressings, in clear soups, and increasingly in Western fine-dining as a yuzu-alternative citrus. The juice profile is rounder and less aromatic than yuzu, with higher juice yield per fruit. Distinct from sudachi (smaller, sharper) and yuzu (more aromatic, lower yield).
Regulatory status
| Japan | Food product; Oita regional brand |
|---|---|
| EU | Food / cosmetic; CosIng comparable |
| United States | GRAS; FDA Prior Notice |
| 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
Kabosu (Oita Sour Citrus) is animal-derived. If you need a non-animal source with similar functions, consider:
Shikuwasa (Citrus depressa)
シークヮーサー
Citrus depressa Hayata source; INCI Citrus Depressa Fruit Extract; MOQ from 100 L (fresh juice); 1-10 kg (extract).
Plant-based· shares 4 categories
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
ガラクトミセス発酵濾液
INCI Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate; MOQ from 10–50 kg.
Plant-based· shares 3 categories
Yuzu / Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
柚子エキス
INCI Citrus Junos Fruit Extract / Citrus Junos Peel Oil; MOQ from 5–20 kg (extract); 5–20 L (essential oil).
Plant-based· shares 3 categories
Easier China regulatory path
Kabosu (Oita Sour Citrus) faces a more restrictive regulatory pathway in China. These alternatives have a simpler status in that market:
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
ガラクトミセス発酵濾液
INCI Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate; MOQ from 10–50 kg.
Simpler in China· shares 3 categories
Yuzu / Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
柚子エキス
INCI Citrus Junos Fruit Extract / Citrus Junos Peel Oil; MOQ from 5–20 kg (extract); 5–20 L (essential oil).
Simpler in China· shares 3 categories
Matcha Powder
抹茶
MOQ from 10–50 kg.
Simpler in China· shares 3 categories
When does it make sense to swap an ingredient? Read the swap guide →
Japanese suppliers
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Last updated: 2026-05-05