Materia primaIngredientes alimentarios

Kudzu Starch

葛粉 (Kuzu ko)

Por qué hacer sourcing en Japón

Sourced from Yoshino (Nara) and Akizuki (Fukuoka) with year-round Japanese supply, consistent quality, and traceability to the prefecture of origin.

Spec clave

MOQ from 20–50 kg.

Producto final típico

Premium wagashi and gluten-free desserts — Authentic Japanese gluten-free thickener for kuzu-mochi cubes, warabi-mochi blends, and chilled translucent jellies for café and luxury-retail channels.

Resumen

Proveedores listados
2 proveedores
MOQ típico
20–50 kg
Plazo típico
8–16 semanas (el método tradicional es lento)
Regiones de origen
Yoshino (Nara), Akizuki (Fukuoka), Oita, Mie
Categoría
Ingredientes alimentarios
Temporada de cosecha
Noviembre – marzo (extracción de raíces)
Estado regulatorio en Japón
Food Sanitation Act
Nombre japonés
葛粉
Romaji
Kuzu ko

Sobre este ingrediente

El almidón de kudzu se extrae de la gruesa raíz tuberosa de Pueraria montana. La producción tradicional japonesa (吉野晒し) consiste en lavados sucesivos con agua de las raíces trituradas durante varias semanas. Yoshino (Nara) y Akizuki (Fukuoka) son centros históricos de producción; el kudzu puro de Yoshino es una categoría premium con siglos de producción continua.

Estado regulatorio

JapónFood Sanitation Act
Unión EuropeaNormas de importación alimentaria
Estados UnidosFDA
ChinaVerificar importación

Preguntas frecuentes para compradores OEM

Q. Why are lead times for kuzuko longer than for other starches?

Production is constrained by (1) a winter-only root harvest (November to March, when starch content peaks and the foliage has died back) and (2) the 30- to 90-day cold-water washing cycle of the traditional process. Industry-typical MOQ is 20–50 kg with 8–16 week lead times depending on whether existing stock can be drawn against the current season's production.

Fuentes · Última revisión: 2026-04-26

Conocimiento del sector — aún no anclado en una única fuente primaria

Q. Should I specify '100% hon-kuzu' or accept blended kuzuko?

On the Japanese domestic market a large share of products labelled simply '葛粉' (kuzuko) are actually blends of kudzu starch with sweet potato starch (sometimes only a small fraction is true kudzu). For premium positioning, request '本葛 100%' (100% hon-kuzu) and a starch-composition certificate or a producer attestation. Pricing differs by an order of magnitude, so this is the single most important spec point.

Fuentes · Última revisión: 2026-04-26

Q. What COA parameters should I request from a kuzuko supplier?

Ask for: starch purity (typical hon-kuzu >95%), moisture (≤16%), ash, microbiological limits (total plate count, yeast/mold, coliforms, E. coli), heavy metals (Pb, As, Cd), pesticide residues if claiming organic, and a starch-source certificate confirming Pueraria lobata origin (vs. sweet potato or corn). For export, also request allergen-free statement and non-GMO declaration.

Fuentes · Última revisión: 2026-04-26

Conocimiento del sector — aún no anclado en una única fuente primaria

Q. Are there export-control or invasive-species considerations?

Pueraria lobata (kudzu) is classified as an invasive species in the United States, but the regulation applies to live plant material — processed starch is not restricted on those grounds. However, US, EU, and several Asian markets apply standard plant-derived food-import controls; confirm pesticide residue limits on the destination market and ensure the import is correctly declared as 'starch from Pueraria lobata root' rather than 'kudzu plant material'.

Fuentes · Última revisión: 2026-04-26

Casos de uso

  • Premium wagashi and gluten-free desserts

    Posicionamiento
    Authentic Japanese gluten-free thickener for kuzu-mochi cubes, warabi-mochi blends, and chilled translucent jellies for café and luxury-retail channels.
    Nivel de uso típico
    8–15% by weight of the liquid base, depending on the desired firmness.
    Notas de formulación
    Dissolve in cold water before heating; gels at approximately 70–80 °C. Re-melts on heating, allowing thermo-reversible textures.
  • Premium ankake and Japanese restaurant sauce thickener

    Posicionamiento
    Substitute for potato or corn starch in restaurant sauces where a glossier, more elastic mouthfeel and cleaner flavor are desired.
    Nivel de uso típico
    1–3% in finished sauce.
    Notas de formulación
    Slurry in cold dashi or water, add late in cooking, simmer briefly to clarify. Sauce remains glossy on chilled storage longer than corn-starch versions.

    Fuentes

    Conocimiento del sector — aún no anclado en una única fuente primaria

  • Convalescent / wellness 'kuzu-yu' beverages

    Posicionamiento
    Heritage 'warming starch drink' positioned for winter wellness lines, often combined with ginger or umeboshi.
    Notas de formulación
    5–8% kuzuko in hot water with sugar; gives the characteristic translucent, viscous texture.

    Fuentes

    Conocimiento del sector — aún no anclado en una única fuente primaria

  • Gluten-free baking and binding ingredient

    Posicionamiento
    Specialty gluten-free flour blends for premium bakeries, where kuzu provides binding and a distinctive snap to crackers and biscuits.
    Nivel de uso típico
    5–20% of the dry-flour blend.

    Fuentes

    Conocimiento del sector — aún no anclado en una única fuente primaria

Proveedores japoneses

Consultar sobre Kudzu Starch