Raw material / 原材料Food ingredients

Saba-Bushi (Dried Mackerel Flakes)

鯖節 (Saba-bushi)

Why source from Japan

Shizuoka Yaizu's fish-processing tradition is the recognised hub of Japan's saba-bushi industry; export-grade producers maintain centuries of curing knowledge.

Key spec

Inosinic acid 600–900 mg/100g; protein 65-75% dry weight; lipid balance gives rounder, fattier mouthfeel than katsuobushi.

Typical end-product

Edo-style soba broth dashi, premium mentsuyu, cosmopolitan dashi-pack export.

At a glance

Suppliers listed: 3 suppliers
Typical MOQ: 10–50 kg dried; 5–25 kg shaved flakes; 1–10 kg powder
Typical lead time: 6–10 weeks
Regions of origin: Shizuoka (Yaizu, Makinohara), Wakayama, Mie
Category: Food ingredients
Harvest season: Year-round; mackerel-fishing peak May – November
Japan regulatory status: Food product; mercury / methylmercury disclosure for high-volume use
Japanese name: 鯖節
Romaji: Saba-bushi

About this ingredient

Dried, smoked, and aged mackerel (chub or blue mackerel) used as a dashi base in Kanto-style cuisines. Distinct from katsuobushi in fattier, richer profile, and traditionally blended with katsuobushi for noodle-broth (especially Edo-style soba). Production concentrated in Shizuoka (Yaizu, Makinohara) and Wakayama. The umami / inosinic-acid yield is comparable to katsuobushi but the lipid balance produces a more rounded broth that complements heavier soy-sauce sauces. Increasingly featured in export-grade premium dashi packs.

Regulatory status

Japan	Food product; mercury / methylmercury disclosure for high-volume use
EU	Food import; allergen labelling for fish required (EU 14 major allergens)
United States	GRAS; FDA Prior Notice; fish-allergen labelling per FALCPA
China	Imported fishery product; GACC registration; AQSIQ inspection

Looking for alternatives?

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Vegan / plant-based alternatives

Saba-Bushi (Dried Mackerel Flakes) is animal-derived. If you need a non-animal source with similar functions, consider:

Easier China regulatory path

Saba-Bushi (Dried Mackerel Flakes) faces a more restrictive regulatory pathway in China. These alternatives have a simpler status in that market:

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Japanese suppliers

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Last updated: 2026-05-05

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