vegetable

Moroheiya

モロヘイヤ

Gunma leads national production (220 t), followed by Okinawa, Gifu, Kanagawa, and Saga. A summer green from Egypt historically dubbed 'the king's herb' for its nutrient density. Beta-carotene reaches 10,000 µg — more than twice that of spinach — and calcium hits 260 mg, placing it at the top of leafy vegetables. The characteristic mucilage comes from soluble fiber. Common in ohitashi, soups, natto dishes, and tempura

Taste & Texture

Releases a signature mucilaginous texture when chopped. The flavor is mild and spinach-like with little aftertaste, and boiling further intensifies the slipperiness

Season

MONTHLY AVAILABILITY

Jul - Sep

PEAK

※ Season is based on domestic field-grown availability

How to Choose

Choose bunches with vivid green, firm leaves and slender, tender stems.
Avoid yellowed or wilted tips — freshness carries through to the leaf edges.

How to Store

Wrap in damp paper towels, bag, and store upright in the refrigerator vegetable compartment.
Quality declines quickly — use promptly.

Shelf life 2-3 days refrigerated, 1 month frozen (quickly blanched)

See shelf life ranking →

Nutrition Facts

per 100g

ENERGY CONTENT

36

KCAL

4.8g

Protein

0.5g

Fat

6.3g

Carbs

5.9g

Fiber

65mg

Vitamin C

530mg

Potassium

1mg

Iron

260mg

Calcium

10000μg

Beta-carotene

250μg

Folate

Source: Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan (8th ed.) 2020

Production Ranking

Gunma25.3%

Okinawa20.1%

Gifu7.0%

Kanagawa6.2%

Saga3.7%

Others37.8%

10%+

5%+

2%+

0.1%+

None

Map data: National Land Numerical Information (MLIT Japan)

#

Prefecture

Harvest (t)

Share

1

220

25.3%

2

175

20.1%

3

61

7.0%

4

54

6.2%

5

32

3.7%

Source: MAFF Crop Statistics (2023)

Top 5 Prefecture Harvest Trends (2020-2022)

Gunma

Okinawa

Gifu

Kanagawa

Saga

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