The firm’s strategy aligns with the “food-as-medicine” concept, leveraging silkworms’ nutritional properties to target metabolic health concerns.
Morus produces silkworm-derived protein powders for muscle maintenance and daily nutrition, SilkMatcha – a matcha blend with silkworm powder in individual sachets – and DNJ capsules targeting blood sugar management.
DNJ (1-Deoxynojirimycin), a compound found in silkworms that feed on mulberry leaves, has been linked to blood sugar regulation. Silkworms also contain nutritional benefits such as vitamins and minerals, and may support gut health, according to researchers.
This health focus is part of the firm’s expansion strategy, which is guided by two main factors: Receptiveness to functional ingredients and cultural familiarity with silkworms, Head of Business Development Keisuke Muroi told FoodNavigator.
“ASEAN markets represent a natural next step. Functional ingredients are gaining increasing attention, and silkworms are not culturally foreign in many of these regions. Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Taiwan are particularly attractive markets for future expansion,” said Muroi.
Okaiko-sama – Japan’s ‘honourable silkworms’
Silkworm cultivation in Japan dates back centuries and was a key part of rural economies through sericulture. While silk production has declined, silkworms remain relevant as a source of nutrition.
Morus was founded in partnership with Shinshu University to combine nutritional science with traditional sericulture.
Meeting lifestyle needs
The firm positions its products as convenient, on-the-go products that do not require major lifestyle changes.
“In markets where dining out is part of daily life and diets tend to be high in sugar and fat, it is unrealistic to expect consumers to radically change their eating habits overnight. Our approach is different. Rather than asking people to restrict what they eat, we focus on supporting how their bodies process what they consume,” said Muroi.
“Our products are simple, convenient, and designed to help manage post-meal blood glucose levels while on the go. By helping to reduce sugar absorption, they address the growing needs of individuals who are increasingly concerned about elevated blood sugar, hypertension, and other lifestyle-related health risks. In this sense, we are responding not just to a niche demand, but to a structural shift in public health awareness across Asia.”
Muroi added that SilkMatcha complements the range by aligning with tea-drinking habits and drawing on Kampo, a traditional Japanese medicinal system focused on restoring balance.
“Its compatibility with Japanese tea culture and its almost herbal, Kampo-like experiential quality make it easy to integrate into everyday routines. For consumers who value ritual, mindfulness, and functional wellness in one cup, SilkMatcha offers a culturally intuitive entry point into the Morus ecosystem,” Muroi said.
Promoting awareness through food and beverages
The firm has been working with restaurants to build awareness, including a tasting session at Singapore’s Sushi Morinaga last December to gauge consumer acceptance of silkworm protein in food and beverages.
With MorSilk already available online, there are plans to expand into wider retail channels.
While online remains a key channel, Morus sees strong potential in wellness-focused offline environments such as gyms, clinics and specialised health facilities, with rollout already underway in selected locations in Singapore.
“We do not select markets based on the ‘alternative protein’ narrative,” Muroi said.
“And we chose silkworms not because they are insects, but because they possess scientifically validated, multifunctional health properties that rival – and in some cases surpass – many conventional natural ingredients.”
