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Dried garland chrysanthemum (shungiku)

Shungiku (garland chrysanthemum) is a leafy vegetable of the Asteraceae family, a Japanese-cuisine staple ingredient characterized by a distinctive bitterness and a gorgeous aroma. Dried shungiku is a commercial raw material that carefully dries domestic fresh shungiku at low temperature and retains the aroma and green color unique to shungiku in a dried-leaf form. It is an ingredient we are often consulted about for food development wanting to make the most of the flavor and aroma of Japanese cuisine, such as an ingredient for hot-pot dishes, an ingredient for dressed dishes and ohitashi, and kneading into tempura batter. It has the characteristic that the aroma is concentrated through drying, and even a small amount brings out a shungiku-like flavor.For consultations on dried vegetable and powder OEM hereand let us know your intended use and desired cut form.

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Agriture's dried shungiku, three commitments

01 Concentrating the distinctive aroma with low-temperature drying

Shungiku's aroma comes from terpene-type components such as alpha-pinene and perillaldehyde, which have the property of volatilizing easily under high-temperature drying. At Agriture, we dry it over time using a low-temperature hot-air method, sealing the gorgeous aroma unique to shungiku into the dried leaf in a concentrated state. Because the aroma is more concentrated than fresh after drying, being able to bring out shungiku's presence with a small amount is a feature.

02 Supplying a flavor vegetable indispensable to Japanese cuisine year-round

Shungiku is a staple hot-pot ingredient, but its season is limited to autumn to winter, and the fresh product is a vegetable that spoils quickly. Dried shungiku can be stored at room temperature for about six months, enabling stable year-round supply. Hot-pot broth manufacturers and prepared-food factories can achieve raw-material procurement unaffected by season.

03 Integrated support from small-lot prototyping to mass production

At Agriture, we handle from small-lot prototyping in 1 kg units, and can also ship in parallel samples with different cut shapes and drying temperatures. Because for shungiku the balance of bitterness and aroma determines the product's completeness, we have a system in place to compare and consider the finish at the prototype stage.

Product catalog showing the items we handle

Flexible support from small lots to large lots

乾燥野菜
  • Sold in small lots from 100g
  • Handling heirloom vegetables from across Japan
  • Dried fruits and herbs also supported

Features of commercial dried shungiku

The distinctive aroma concentrated by drying

The terpene-type aroma components unique to shungiku become relatively concentrated as moisture is removed by drying. Because it can bring out shungiku's presence even in a small amount, it can efficiently impart flavor when blended into soup bases and seasonings.

The bitterness and freshness indispensable to Japanese cuisine

Shungiku's slight bitterness is an element that adds depth to the flavor of Japanese cuisine. It can be utilized as a commercial raw material for staple Japanese dishes that make the most of bitterness and aroma, such as hot-pot dishes, dressed dishes, and tempura.

Retention of vivid green color

Low-temperature drying suppresses the fading of chlorophyll and maintains the vivid green characteristic of shungiku. The color stands out when added to hot pots and soups, for a finish with high visual appeal.

Year-round supply with room-temperature storage

Fresh shungiku is a vegetable skewed to its season (autumn to winter) and quick to spoil, but the dried product can be stored at room temperature for about six months, enabling stable year-round supply. It can reduce the inventory-management burden as a commercial raw material.

Additive-free, domestic ingredients

It is finished with only shungiku leaves, without using colorings, preservatives, or flavorings. It is a specification well-suited to clean-label-oriented product design that wants to keep the ingredient list simple.

Powder development also accommodated

We also offer shungiku powder, made by milling dried shungiku. It suits uses where you want to spread shungiku's aroma evenly, such as blending into hot-pot broth bases and Japanese-style dressings.

Product specifications (commercial)

Item

Details

Raw material

Shungiku (domestic)

Shape

Dried leaf (choose from whole / coarsely crushed / crushed)

Production method

Low-temperature hot-air drying

Best-before date

About 6 months from the shipping date

Processing plant

Our own processing plant within Kyoto Prefecture

Shipping unit

100g〜

Minimum-lot OEM

Prototype from 1kg / full production from 10kg

Customization support

Item

Available

Details

Cut form changes

Selectable from whole leaf, coarsely crushed, and crushed

Powdering

Handles fine-milling processing as shungiku powder

Small-lot OEM prototyping

Prototyping available from 1kg

Mixed materials and blends

Blending with other dried vegetables is available

Packaging changes

Both commercial and small-portion individual packaging are available

POWDER

A powder type is also available

We also stock shungiku powder, made by further finely milling dried shungiku. It is ideal for uses where you want to blend shungiku's aroma evenly, such as hot-pot broth bases and Japanese-style dressings.

See details on shungiku powder →

Commitments to variety, grower, and growing region

The raw material used for dried shungiku is domestic shungiku purchased directly from partner farmers in Japan. Shungiku is a vegetable of the genus Glebionis in the Asteraceae family, and in Japan the Kanto large-leaf type and the Kansai medium-leaf type are mainstream. Leaf shape and the strength of bitterness differ by variety, and variety selection matched to the application determines the quality of the finish.

BRAND

Variety: Shungiku (genus Glebionis, Asteraceae family, Glebionis coronaria). A staple Japanese-cuisine leafy vegetable with a distinctive bitterness and gorgeous aroma. The large-leaf type has mild bitterness and is easy to eat, while the medium-leaf type is characterized by a firm aroma.

PRODUCER

Producer: We purchase from partner farmers linked with domestic shungiku growing regions. Because shungiku's freshness deteriorates quickly after harvest, we organize operations to shorten the lead time from harvest to processing.

REGION

Growing region: We procure raw material from growing regions suited to shungiku cultivation, centered on domestic warm regions. Because temperature difference affects the accumulation of bitter components, we also pay attention to growing-region selection.

CULTIVATION

Cultivation method: Under managed cultivation with reduced pesticide use, we have arranged a record-keeping system that can also meet the raw-material origin certification food manufacturers require.

Low-temperature drying technology and quality control

Alpha-pinene and perillaldehyde, which make up shungiku's aroma, are highly volatile, and under high-temperature drying much of the aroma is lost. At Agriture, we adopt a low-temperature hot-air method with finely controlled temperature and airflow, organizing a drying program that removes only moisture while suppressing the volatilization of aroma components. Shungiku has the characteristic of the aroma being concentrated by drying, and with appropriate low-temperature treatment it finishes as a dried leaf with a stronger aroma than fresh.

Manufacturing is managed in an integrated way at our own processing facility in Kyoto Prefecture, securing traceability from raw-material receiving to shipment. We have standardized the process of packing after a foreign-matter removal step, and we also accommodate the issuance of analysis reports and raw-material origin certificates required for OEM projects.

TIPS | Trivia on drying shungiku

Shungiku is a vegetable with the distinctive aroma characteristic of the Asteraceae family, and in Europe it is called garland chrysanthemum, with ornamental use being mainstream. Using it routinely as food is a food culture unique to East Asia, and dried shungiku is a rare flavor ingredient usable in both Japanese and Chinese cuisine. At Agriture, making the most of the aroma-concentrating effect of drying, we propose raw-material design that brings out a shungiku feel with a small amount, which is hard to achieve with fresh shungiku.

Use cases and adoption examples

As an ingredient for hot-pot dishes and sukiyaki

Dried shungiku can be used as a staple ingredient for hot-pot dishes and sukiyaki simply by putting it directly into the pot. Steeped in hot soup, it rehydrates soft in 2-3 minutes, and shungiku's aroma spreads throughout the pot. It is an area we are often consulted about for incorporation into hot-pot broth manufacturers' dried-ingredient sets.

As an ingredient for dressed dishes and ohitashi

Rehydrating dried shungiku in water and making it into sesame-dressed dishes or ohitashi lets you offer shungiku dressed-dish menus year-round. Fresh shungiku is a vegetable with a limited season and quick to spoil, but the dried product lets prepared-food factories manufacture side dishes of stable quality.

As an ingredient for kneading into tempura batter and coating

Mixing shungiku powder or finely crushed dried shungiku into tempura batter transfers shungiku's aroma to the coating and can be utilized for variation development of kakiage and tempura. With the dried product, weighing is easy and prep efficiency can be raised.

As an ingredient for miso soup and Japanese-style soups

Adding dried shungiku to miso soup or clear soup makes the chrysanthemum aroma spread softly throughout the soup. It can be utilized as an ingredient for instant miso soup and as one ingredient in Japanese-style soup kits, and it also pairs well with freeze-dried-method soups.

As an ingredient for pickles and tsukudani

Half-rehydrating dried shungiku and then soaking it in a seasoning liquid makes it possible to offer shungiku tsukudani or light pickles year-round. The development of processed products that was difficult because fresh shungiku spoils quickly can also be manufactured at stable quality with the dried product.

Blend development with other dried vegetables

We also handle the design of Japanese-style dried-vegetable mixes combining it with dried spinach, dried komatsuna, dried negi, and more.List of dried vegetablesWe can propose combinations with other ingredients from .

Commercial usage and rehydration

乾燥春菊は熱湯やスープに直接投入するとおよそ2〜3分で戻ります。鍋物やスープの具材として使う場合は、戻し不要でそのまま投入できる手軽さがメリットです。和え物やおひたしに使う際は、常温水に10〜15分ほど浸して戻してから調味してください。

保管は高温多湿を避けて密閉保管がベストです。特にクロロフィルは光で退色しやすいため、遮光性のある包装材での保管をおすすめします。開封後は速やかに使い切るか、チャック付き袋で空気接触を減らすと品質を長く保てます。

Related cases and articles

Product catalog showing the items we handle

Flexible support from small lots to large lots

乾燥野菜
  • Sold in small lots from 100g
  • Handling heirloom vegetables from across Japan
  • Dried fruits and herbs also supported

Frequently asked questions

Q. What is the minimum lot and prototype handling?

A. 試作は1kg〜、本製造は10kg〜で承っています。リーフ・粗砕・パウダーなど複数形状の同時試作も対応可能です。苦味のバランスを調整したサンプルもご用意できます。

Q. Can the bitterness of shungiku be adjusted?

A. 品種選定(大葉種はマイルド、中葉種はしっかりした苦味)と乾燥温度の調整で、苦味の強度をある程度コントロールできます。鍋物用にはしっかりした香りの品種を、和え物用にはマイルドな品種をご提案することも可能です。

Q. What is the lead time?

A. 在庫品は受注後1〜2週間で出荷可能です。カスタマイズ仕様の新規加工は試作1〜2週間、本製造で3〜4週間が目安です。秋〜冬の収穫期に合わせた前倒し対応もご相談いただけます。

Q. Can you issue a raw-material origin certificate?

A. 国産春菊であることを証明する原料原産地証明書は発行可能です。微生物検査書についても案件ごとにご相談のうえ発行を進めています。

Q. 乾燥すると香りは弱くなりませんか?

A. 春菊の芳香成分は水溶性ではなく揮発性のテルペン類が主体のため、低温乾燥で適切に処理すると、水分が抜けた分だけ香りが凝縮されます。生の春菊と比べて重量あたりの香り強度は高くなるのが特徴で、少量でも春菊の存在感を発揮します。

Q. Can it be blended with other dried vegetables?

A. 乾燥ほうれん草・乾燥小松菜・乾燥ネギなどとの事前ブレンドに対応しています。鍋つゆ用具材セットや味噌汁の具材ミックスなど、複数素材を組み合わせたブレンド設計のご相談が可能です。

Q. Please tell me the OEM consultation flow

A. お問い合わせフォームからご相談 → コンセプトヒアリング → サンプル送付 → 有償試作 → 仕様確定 → 本製造、の流れです。春菊は苦味と香りのバランスが商品の完成度を左右するため、試作段階で複数パターンを比較検討できる体制で対応しています。

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    Author of this article

    小島 怜のアバター Rei Kojima Agriture CEO

    CEO of Agriture Inc. Runs a contract processing and OEM business centered on dried vegetables and dried fruit. In partnership with farmers within Kyoto Prefecture, he pursues “sustainable food distribution” through the use of non-standard vegetables and support for sixth-industrialization. Drawing on extensive hands-on experience at manufacturing sites, he provides support that walks alongside every business considering OEM—from product planning and prototyping to small-lot handling, packaging design, and sales-channel development.

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