Kikuchi Suiden Burdock (Kumamoto): season, origin and where to buy

Seasonal calendar

Winter burdock ships from late November to mid-March, and spring burdock from late March to mid-July.

Timing shifts with the weather and conditions in each region.

Official registration details (MAFF)

The registered description as published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Characteristics

Kikuchi Suiden Gobo is a burdock having a white skin and less bent. It also has soft texture and slight harshness.Kikuchi Suiden Gobo is available almost throughout the year and the quality and quantity are stable so that Kikuchi Suiden Gobo is highly evaluated by the market.

Link with the production area

The production area has well drained soil and various water sources that is important for washing burdocks and for removing the harshness.Since the production area is a region where livestock farming is flourishing, compost from livestock dung is available to cultivate burdock. Also, Kikuchi Suiden Gobo is produced in wet paddy which is suitable for reducing nematode damage.

Characteristics and link with the area: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website (https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/intel/gi_act/register/s74.html)

Where to buy

As a rule, only products that meet the registered standard may use a GI name (with exceptions such as prior use). Check for the GI mark and the place of origin to tell it apart from ordinary products with similar names.

Buy from the producer group (opens in a new tab)

These links go to Japanese-language shops; check whether they ship overseas.

FAQ

Burdock root grown in paddy fields in Kikuchi City and three neighboring municipalities in Kumamoto Prefecture. It has white skin, few bends, tender flesh and little harshness. Plentiful water, well-drained soil and compost from local livestock farms support a long shipping season with steady quality and volume.

Kikuchi Suiden Burdock is produced in Kikuchi City, Koshi City, and Ozu Town and Kikuyo Town in Kikuchi County, Kumamoto Prefecture.

Kikuchi Suiden Burdock is in season (harvested or shipped) in Nov–Jul. Winter burdock ships from late November to mid-March, and spring burdock from late March to mid-July.

Look for it via the producer group's own shop. Check the GI mark and the place of origin before you buy.

Kikuchi Suiden Burdock was registered as a Geographical Indication on March 20, 2019 (Registration No. 74). The registered producer group is Kikuchi-Area Agricultural Cooperative.