Nigari (Bittern / Magnesium Chloride)
にがり (Nigari)
Why source from Japan
Okinawan and Seto Inland Sea salt traditions yield mineral-rich nigari with profile differences (Okinawan high-magnesium vs Seto balanced) prized by tofu artisans worldwide.
Key spec
Magnesium chloride 60–95% (varies by source); pH 6.5–7.5; coagulation rate ideal 0.4–0.7% in soy milk for tofu.
Typical end-product
Premium tofu coagulant for export, magnesium-fortified beverages, single-origin retail nigari.
At a glance
- Suppliers listed
- 3 suppliers
- Typical MOQ
- 10–100 L liquid; 5–25 kg powder
- Typical lead time
- 4–6 weeks
- Regions of origin
- Okinawa (Ishigaki, Miyako), Hyogo (Ako), Kagawa, Ishikawa (Noto)
- Category
- Marine functional ingredients
- Harvest season
- Year-round; output volume linked to salt production cycles
- Japan regulatory status
- Food additive (designated coagulant) for tofu under JAS
- Japanese name
- にがり
- Romaji
- Nigari
About this ingredient
Liquid bittern obtained as a by-product of seawater salt production. Primarily magnesium chloride (60–95%) with minor calcium and potassium. Indispensable as the coagulant for traditional Japanese tofu, and increasingly used as a magnesium-supply ingredient in hot-pot soups, beverages, and cosmetics. Domestic production is concentrated in Okinawa (Ishigaki, Miyako), the Seto Inland Sea (Ako, Kagawa), and Noto Peninsula. Mass-volume nigari for tofu manufacturing flows through cooperatives, while specialty single-origin nigari has emerged as a premium retail and wellness category.
Regulatory status
| Japan | Food additive (designated coagulant) for tofu under JAS |
|---|---|
| EU | Food additive E511 (magnesium chloride); CosIng listed (Magnesium Chloride) |
| United States | GRAS for food (food additive 21 CFR 184.1426); MoCRA cosmetic use |
| China | GB 2760 food-additive register; verify import label compliance |
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
Nigari (Bittern / Magnesium Chloride) 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 2 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 2 categories
Fucoidan
フコイダン
INCI Fucoidan (from various brown seaweeds); MOQ from 1–10 kg.
Plant-based· shares 2 categories
When does it make sense to swap an ingredient? Read the swap guide →
Japanese suppliers
Ako Kasei Co., Ltd.
赤穂化成株式会社
Ako, HyogoEst. 1947English supportExport experienceFSSC 22000ISO 22000Premium nigari for tofu and supplement use
Kanehide Bio Co., Ltd.
金秀バイオ株式会社
Tomigusuku, OkinawaEnglish supportExport experienceISO22000Japan Health Food GMPOkinawan nigari
Noto Saltworks Co., Ltd.
奥能登塩田村
Suzu, IshikawaEst. 1986Export experienceBy-product nigari from agehama salt production
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Last updated: 2026-05-05