This is the Kaneka Foods x JA Shizuoka Strawberry Gumi. It used juice from benihoppe strawberries grown in Shizuoka Prefecture and contained 2.4 billion CFUs of labre lactic acid bacteria. Benihoppe strawberries are a cross between akihime and sachinoka.
The gummy was circular, about 2 cm in diameter and 1 cm in height, with a fresh aroma of ripe strawberries. On tasting, the gummy’s exterior had a moderate bounce, about 3 out of 5 on the Meiji softness to hardness scale, but swiftly gave way to the jelly centre, which released a bright strawberry flavour. This began with a mellow sweetness, increasing in richness with a vibrant sourness that heightened the juicy freshness of the strawberry flavour. The jelly centre carried most of the strawberry flavour, while the gummy exterior had a subtler sweetness, lengthening the chew time and hence the presence of the rich jelly centre on the palate. The rich, juicy flavour with balanced sweetness and sourness was elegantly executed, making this gummy incredibly enjoyable and worth repurchasing.
This Kaneka Foods x JA Shizuoka Strawberry Gumi contained 40 g. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Hong Kong in 2023.