Tokoro Pink Garlic (Hokkaido): season, origin and where to buy

Seasonal calendar

Harvested from mid-July to early August, it reaches stores in earnest from around mid-September.

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

A garlic with pink outer skin, Tokoro Pink Garlic is rich in the intrinsic taste and flavor of garlic, and very pungent when eaten raw.Tokoro Pink Garlic is rated as being superior to garlic produced elsewhere. It is even employed as a pharmaceutical ingredient due to its rich content of medicinally beneficial substances.

Link with the production area

Areas producing this vegetable are located along the coastlines of the Sea of Okhotsk, characterized by an inland climate with harsh winters, drift ice, and dry soil due to strong wind. Growing under these hostile natural conditions and environmental stress contributes to the excellent quality of Tokoro Pink Garlic.

Characteristics and link with the area: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website (https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/intel/gi_act/register/s120.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.

We have not found a reliable online or furusato nozei listing yet. Ask local farm stands or the producer group.

FAQ

Garlic with pink outer skins, grown in Tokoro, Kitami City, on Hokkaido's Sea of Okhotsk coast. It has a strong, true garlic flavor and aroma and a sharp bite when eaten raw. Harsh winter cold, strong winds and dry soil all shape its quality.

Tokoro Pink Garlic is produced in Tokoro Town, Kitami City, Hokkaido.

Tokoro Pink Garlic is in season (harvested or shipped) in Aug–Oct. Harvested from mid-July to early August, it reaches stores in earnest from around mid-September.

We have not confirmed a reliable online or furusato nozei listing. Local farm stands or the producer group are your best bet.

Tokoro Pink Garlic was registered as a Geographical Indication on March 31, 2022 (Registration No. 120). The registered producer group is Tokorocho Agricultural Cooperative.