Kudzu Starch

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.

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.

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.

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'.