Dried shikuwasa
TOC
Dried Shikuwasa: product overview
Shikuwasa is a citrus specialty of Okinawa, characterized by a refreshing tartness and a pleasant bitterness. Drying in particular concentrates its aroma and tartness, letting you enjoy that flavor even after long storage. Because it is sliced and dried with the peel on, the fruit's full richness can be used without waste.
Dried shikuwasa can be used as a topping for drinks and desserts or as an accent in cooking, and processed into powder, it can also be used as a seasoning that adds natural tartness.
Three commitments Agriture values
01 Okinawa-grown shikuwasa, processed locally
We use only fruit harvested in shikuwasa's noted growing areas, such as northern Okinawa Island and Yonaguni Island. To minimize the time from harvest to processing, we partner with processing partners within Okinawa to carry out round-slicing with the peel on and low-temperature drying.
02 Peel bitterness and juice tartness as a set
Shikuwasa's appeal is the refreshing aroma and slight bitterness of the peel, together with the sharp tartness of the juice. By slicing and drying with the peel on, we shape it into a form easy to use as a beverage or confectionery material, giving a finish that lets you enjoy citrus character without waste.
03 Additive-free drying with zero sugar or glucose
While sugar-preserved processing is the norm for ordinary dried citrus, this product uses no sugar or glucose whatsoever, keeping the fruit's own tartness and slight bitterness. It can be adopted with confidence in health-conscious product development.
Product catalog showing the items we handle
Flexible support from small lots to large lots
- Sold in small lots from 100g
- Handling heirloom vegetables from across Japan
- Dried fruits and herbs also supported
Characteristics as a commercial raw material
The appeal of the Okinawa brand
Okinawa-grown shikuwasa is an Okinawa citrus specialty widely known to consumers. It is a raw material whose regional narrative can be put straight into packaging.
Strength of aroma and tartness
Because it is dried with the peel on, the citrus aroma rises just by pouring hot water. Its strong aroma makes it ready to serve as a raw material for teas and carbonated drinks.
Flavoring that works in small amounts
With a firm balance of tartness and bitterness, even a small amount tightens the taste of dishes and drinks. It is effective when you want to add character while keeping raw-material costs down.
Long-term room-temperature storage possible
Fresh citrus is perishable and tends to raise distribution costs with mandatory refrigeration, but the dried product allows 6-month room-temperature storage. It also curbs the inventory risk of limited-edition products.
Compatibility with baked-goods and bread materials
Chopped and kneaded into dough, it can impart the aroma of Okinawan citrus to madeleines, pound cakes, brioche, and more. It is perfect for regionally-collaborative product planning as well.
Ground into a spice or seasoning
Made into powder, it can be combined with salt or herbs to develop into an original spice mix. It can also be used to develop seasonings for Okinawan-cuisine and creative-Japanese restaurants.
Product specifications
Item | Details |
|---|---|
Raw material growing region | Okinawa-grown |
Specification | Rounds |
Storage method | Room temperature (store away from high heat and humidity) |
Best-before date | 6 months from the shipping date |
Minimum lot | From 10 bags / 100 g |
Powder | Available |
Manufacturing period | Autumn |
Customization and OEM support
Through cooperation with partner farmers and our own processing facilities, Agriture achieves stable raw material supply and high-quality manufacturing. We can flexibly accommodate OEM manufacturing and also handle consultations on specification changes and packaging.
- Custom-size support (cut-thickness changes, shape adjustments): consultation available for orders of 10 kg or more
- OEM support: available (from small-lot prototyping to mass production)
- Large-lot manufacturing: available (consultation required 3 months before the manufacturing period)
POWDER
We also offer powder products
Agriture offers not only dried vegetables but also a wide range of commercial vegetable powders. If you want to use them as an ingredient for dressings, sauces, or bakery products, please also see the powder product list.
Commitments to variety, producer, growing region, and cultivation
BRAND
Variety:Shikuwasa (Okinawa-grown). A small citrus representative of Okinawa, characterized by the slight bitterness of the peel and the strong tartness of the juice. Its appeal is that it can be sliced and used with the peel on.
PRODUCER
Producer:Partner farmers and processing partners within Okinawa. By completing everything from harvest to drying locally, we minimize the loss of aroma components.
REGION
Growing region:Okinawa-grown. The subtropical climate and calcareous soil nurture shikuwasa's characteristic aroma and tartness.
CULTIVATION
Cultivation method:Cultivation is mainly open-field, with fruit processed intensively during the early-autumn harvest season. It is round-sliced with the peel on and finished through a low-temperature drying process that preserves the aroma.
*Reference: OYAOYA product page
Low-temperature drying that preserves the ingredient's character
At Agriture, to make the most of shikuwasa's flavor, color, and texture, we use a drying method that draws out moisture slowly over time at low temperature. While high-heat hot-air drying can remove moisture in a short time, it has the drawback that aroma components, pigments, and heat-sensitive vitamins are easily lost. Low-temperature drying can raise the raw material's shelf stability while retaining these components as much as possible, characteristically bringing up the ingredient's natural flavor when rehydrated.
💡 TIPS | Drying-processing trivia
Citrus aromatic compounds such as limonene are highly volatile and are almost entirely lost in ordinary high-heat drying. In our partner processing, drawing out moisture slowly at low temperature retains the aroma and bitter components in the peel firmly, giving a finish where you clearly feel the citrus character when rehydrated.
Use cases for dried shikuwasa
Dried shikuwasa is a versatile citrus raw material that can be developed broadly across teas, drinks, baked goods, and seasonings. As an ideal material for product development that conveys Okinawa character, OEM requests are increasing.
Shikuwasa tea and herbal tea material
It becomes a refreshing citrus tea just by pouring hot water. Blended with hibiscus or lemongrass, you can make a tea product with distinctive Okinawa character. Because it is a dried product, the aroma is stable, and being able to prepare the same-quality blended tea year-round regardless of season also suits commercialization.
Material for carbonated drinks and craft sodas
Added to the base of a craft cola or soda, it finishes into a refreshing drink with shikuwasa's characteristic aroma and tartness. Because it extracts easily into water and carbonation, it suits developing original drinks for cafes and bars. Room-temperature storage lets you use only the amount needed, so it also handles small-lot, multi-item menu design.
Kneading into Western and baked-goods doughs
Chopped and kneaded into doughs for madeleines, pound cakes, scones, and the like, it adds a slightly bitter aroma with a different character from bergamot types. Because it can be used with the peel on, the aroma is rich and tends to remain after baking, suiting it as a differentiating material for craft baked goods.
Garnish material for cocktails and mocktails
Perched on the rim of a glass or floated in a cocktail or mocktail, it makes an impressive finish in both appearance and aroma. Dried slices are easy to handle and keep well, so they are a convenient material for decorative use at hotel bars and creative bars.
Material for salt, spice mixes, and furikake
Made into powder and blended with salt, sansho, or pepper, it can be developed into an original Okinawan-citrus-flavored salt or furikake. Because the peel-derived aroma is concentrated, it works in small amounts, and can be used as a differentiating material for finishing seasonings on grilled fish, chicken dishes, and tempura.
About commercial and OEM consultations
At Agriture, in partnership with Okinawa partner farmers and processing partners, we support shikuwasa end-to-end from harvest to drying. Across tea OEM, drink OEM, and Western-confectionery development, we can respond flexibly to specification changes and small-lot prototyping.
Past initiatives and adoption projects can also be seen on the following pages.
- Past initiative case studies are here
- Commercial dried vegetable OEM here
- Commercial vegetable powder here
Product catalog showing the items we handle
Flexible support from small lots to large lots
- Sold in small lots from 100g
- Handling heirloom vegetables from across Japan
- Dried fruits and herbs also supported
FAQ about dried shikuwasa
Q. Please tell me the minimum lot for dried shikuwasa and the volume per bag.
A. For commercial use, we can do business from a minimum of 10 bags at 100 g per bag. We can accommodate small lots even at the prototyping and test-adoption stage, and for mass production you can consult with us on package specifications and lot quantities.
Q. What is the commercial price range?
A. The price varies with the raw material market, specifications, lot size, and cut specifications. When you inquire, we will propose a quote to match your desired specifications and lot, so first let us know your required conditions.
Q. What is the lead time from order to delivery?
A. Stocked items can be shipped in about a few days to a week. For made-to-order or custom specifications, there are cases where we ask for a lead time of about two weeks to a month, including raw material preparation and the drying process. Consulting early provides reassurance.
Q. Can you obtain a certificate of origin for the raw material?
A. Depending on the client's request, we can prepare a certificate of origin for the raw material. Since there are cases where we can provide it together with the cultivation information of partner farmers, please let us know the documents you need in advance.
Q. Can you handle food-sanitation and HACCP compliance and export-oriented support?
A. Agriture's processing carries out hygiene management in line with the HACCP approach, and you can consult us on dried vegetable raw materials for export as well. Please also consult us on confirming requirements by destination country and label support when you inquire.
Q. For an OEM request, in what flow should I consult?
A. First, let us know your product image, lot quantity, and desired delivery date via the inquiry form. After a hearing, we propose prototyping, a quote, and a production plan, and once you approve, we schedule mass production—this is the general flow.
Q. Can you handle custom specification changes such as cut size and shape?
RETAIL
For those looking to purchase in small packs
For those who want to check shikuwasa's aroma starting small, our partner brand OYAOYA sells retail packs of 20g, 80g, 200g, and 500g. They can also be used for in-store test sales and gift purposes.
Recommended reading
Download the product catalog
We will send the materials to your email address based on the information you provide.
