Why source from Japan
Heritage wagashi producers (Toraya, Kyoto-mizu-yokan houses) hold the recipe lineage; mass-volume canned export supports overseas Japanese-confectionery channels.
Key spec
Azuki 30-40%; sugar 25-35%; kanten 1-2%; water content 50-65%; soft slice-and-chill texture.
Typical end-product
Premium gift-grade summer wagashi, canned export retail, hospitality cuisine.
At a glance
- Suppliers listed
- Phase 1 onboarding in progress
- Typical MOQ
- 100 portions (canned); 10–50 kg bulk
- Typical lead time
- 4–8 weeks
- Regions of origin
- Kyoto (Toraya and other heritage producers), Nagano (kanten heritage source)
- Category
- Food ingredients
- Harvest season
- Year-round; peak retail summer
- Japan regulatory status
- Food product; sugar / azuki / agar under JAS
- Japanese name
- 水羊羹
- Romaji
- 水羊羹
About this ingredient
Soft, water-rich sweet bean jelly — distinct from neri-yokan (firmer, denser) in agar-to-bean ratio and water content. A Japanese summer dessert classic; served chilled in slices. Heritage producers (Toraya, Tanegashima Wagashi, Kyoto Wagashi makers) anchor premium retail; mass-volume canned mizu-yokan supports export retail. Production marries azuki anko paste, kanten (agar), and sugar in a long-simmered jelly. Distinct from existing 'azuki-bean' / 'anko-paste-tsubuan' / 'kanten-agar' base ingredient entries.
Regulatory status
| Japan | Food product; sugar / azuki / agar under JAS |
|---|---|
| EU | Food import; allergen labelling |
| 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
Mizu-Yōkan (Soft Sweet Bean Jelly) 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
Mizu-Yōkan (Soft Sweet Bean Jelly) 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
Phase 1 manufacturer onboarding is in progress. If you are actively sourcing this ingredient and would like to be introduced to candidate Japanese producers, send an inquiry and our team will return with options.
Disclaimer
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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: 2026-05-05