
Black-koji is the only koji adapted to Okinawan warm-climate fermentation; Aspergillus luchuensis genetics anchor 600+ years of awamori tradition.
Citric-acid yield significantly higher than yellow / white koji; tolerates 30°C+ ferment temperatures; essential for awamori and Okinawan upcycled cosmetic ingredients.
Awamori starter culture, Okinawan-positioned fermented food, black-koji cosmetic upcycling.
Black-koji mold (Aspergillus luchuensis) — the foundational starter culture of Okinawan awamori. Distinct from yellow-koji (sake / miso) and white-koji (shōchū) in higher citric-acid yield and tolerance for warm-climate fermentation. Okinawan awamori distilleries and the Akita Konno Shoten specialty supply chain produce the commercial starter cultures. Increasingly studied for cosmetic upcycling on the back of black-koji-fermented sake-kasu profiles. Distinct from existing awamori and shochu-kasu entries.
| 日本 | Food product; under MHLW good manufacturing practices |
|---|---|
| 欧盟 | Food import; novel-food check for cosmetic extracts |
| 美国 | GRAS by long history (post-1994 NDI for new cosmetic extracts) |
| 中国 | NMPA / TCM context |