Japanese company creates plant-based dashi broth to support halal and vegan cuisine

Fuji Oil Co., a Japanese company established in 1950, has developed a plant-based dashi broth designed to replicate the flavors of chicken and seafood. This innovation aims to accommodate the rising demand for halal and vegan culinary options, particularly as Japan anticipates a surge in international tourism.

Launched commercially in 2023, the MIRA-Dashi is made from vegetable oils and soybeans. Its development addresses a gap in the Japanese market, where, according to the Japan Halal Association, few companies produce plant-based broths with authentic meat or fish-like tastes.

The versatile dashi is already being incorporated into the menus of popular establishments. The well-known ramen chain Ippudo is using MIRA-Dashi in some of its dishes, and it is featured in cafes like Pivot BASE in Osaka's Dotonbori district, which caters to international travelers. Menus include ramen options that traditionally use pork bone broth or spicy minced meat sauce, now made accessible to vegetarians and those seeking halal options.

One vegetarian visitor from India expressed satisfaction with the ramen's flavor, noting they enjoyed the broth while dining with their family. Fuji Oil is also expanding the marketing of MIRA-Dashi to various restaurants and hotels in the Tokyo metropolitan area, further broadening its reach to both tourists and locals seeking plant-based alternatives.

“

MIRA-Dashi is made from vegetable oils and soybeans.