Mentaiko / Tarako (Spicy Pollock Roe)

Mentaiko (明太子) — e.g. Fukuya / Kanefuku style · Fukuoka/Hakata (mentaiko culture hub)
Meat & Seafood Roe Frozen Growing export

Marinated (often chili-spiced) Alaska pollock roe — a Hakata specialty used in onigiri, pasta, and as a rice topping. A cult Japanese product with growing overseas recognition; sold frozen to Japanese-grocery and foodservice channels abroad.

The supplierFukuoka/Hakata mentaiko makers (Fukuya — the originator, Kanefuku, and others); pollock roe (much input Alaskan/Russian) cured and chili-marinated to Hakata recipe. Strong brand houses with retail and food-service lines.
Why it sells abroadAuthentic Hakata-style mentaiko from heritage makers (Fukuya/Kanefuku) — distinctive spicy-umami specialty with strong brand recognition.

Buyer's brief ✓ SOURCES VERIFIED

CertificationsMajor Fukuoka makers (Kanefuku, Fukuya) operate integrated in-house processing (confirmed for Kanefuku — premium processor, sourcing-to-processing in-house). US-FDA seafood HACCP for the US market is mandatory (confirmed regulatory requirement); FSSC 22000 / ISO 22000 / additive controls: typical but not publicly verified per-maker for this generic listing.
Pack formatsWhole roe sacs (mentaiko) or loose (tarako) in vac packs/trays; 100-500g consumer packs and bulk tubs, frozen.
Shelf lifeFrozen: ~6-12 months at -18°C or below (typical). Chilled: ~2-3 weeks at 0-4°C (preservative-dependent).
StorageFrozen -18°C or below; chilled 0-4°C.
Minimum orderTypical: by carton to FCL reefer.
Lead timeTypical: 2-4 weeks incl. health certificate.
CapacityTypical: good — established Fukuoka maker capacity.
Container loadTypical: frozen reefer 20ft/40ft.
PricingEstimate: Typical $15-40/kg FOB by grade/maker.
OEM / private labelPrivate-label/processing available (spice level, additive-free spec, pack format).
Wholesale & MOQFrozen vacuum packs, reefer/air; Asian-grocery and Japanese-restaurant supply.
Key exporters & distributorsFukuya, Kanefuku, Japanese seafood houses
Export regulationProcessed roe controls (approved establishment, health cert); coloring/additive (e.g. nitrite, pigment) declarations vary by market and can restrict some formulations; allergen labelling. Frozen cold chain.
Market demandJapanese-cuisine HORECA + premium retail in US, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan (pasta/onigiri/rice).
How to source itFukuoka mentaiko makers (Fukuya, Kanefuku) directly or via exporters; JETRO; FOODEX JAPAN, Seafood Expo.
Verified sourceshttps://www.kanefuku.com/what-is-mentaiko/; https://www.foodinjapan.org/kyushu/fukuoka-en/mentaiko-tarako/
MakerFukuoka mentaiko makers (Fukuya, Kanefuku, etc.)
OriginFukuoka/Hakata (mentaiko culture hub)
CategoryMeat & Seafood / Roe
Available inUS, HK, SG, TW
HandlingFrozen
Price tierPremium
ChannelSpecialty
Export readinessGrowing export
HS code0305 / 1604
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Profile maintained by Japonity (japonity.com), May 2026. General sourcing information only — confirm current availability, pricing, MOQ and the destination market's import rules with the maker or exporter before contracting. Japonity is not affiliated with this brand.