Why source from Japan
Tamba Kuri is one of Japan's MAFF-registered GI products; Sasayama heritage cultivation produces 60-70g/nut size profile no other origin matches.
Key spec
Carbohydrate 30-40%; sugar (sucrose-dominant) 12-18% post-storage; protein 4-6%; characteristic dense flesh.
Typical end-product
Luxury kuri-yokan / kuri-manju, premium Japanese-style mont blanc, fine-dining Western fusion confectionery.
At a glance
- Suppliers listed
- 2 suppliers
- Typical MOQ
- 50–500 kg fresh; 10–50 kg processed (peeled / paste)
- Typical lead time
- 8–14 weeks (post-harvest, allocation-constrained)
- Regions of origin
- Hyogo (Tamba, Sasayama), Kyoto (Fukuchiyama)
- Category
- Food ingredients
- Harvest season
- Late September – early October
- Japan regulatory status
- Food product; GI-protected ('Tamba Kuri' / 丹波栗, MAFF GI register)
- Japanese name
- 丹波栗
- Romaji
- Tamba Kuri
About this ingredient
Premium Japanese chestnut cultivar (Castanea crenata) from the Tamba region (eastern Hyogo, north-central Kyoto). Distinguished by exceptionally large bean size (60-70 g per nut, vs typical 20-25g) and a sweet, dense flesh. Tamba Kuri is GI-protected; the Sasayama / Tamba district has 800+ year heritage as the recognised premium origin. Used in luxury wagashi (kuri-yokan, kuri-manju, marron-glacé), Japanese-style mont blanc, and increasingly in upscale Western fine-dining. Distinct from the existing tochi-no-mi (horse chestnut) entry and the kanten / soybean-based confectionery ingredients.
Regulatory status
| Japan | Food product; GI-protected ('Tamba Kuri' / 丹波栗, MAFF GI register) |
|---|---|
| EU | Food import; GI-recognition under EU-Japan EPA |
| United States | GRAS by traditional use; FDA Prior Notice required |
| China | GACC food facility registration; verify GI recognition |
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
Tamba Kuri (Tamba Chestnut) 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
Tamba Kuri (Tamba Chestnut) 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
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Last updated: 2026-05-05