This is the Asahi Mitsuya 100 Ume, released to celebrate Mitsuya’s 140th anniversary in 2024. The drink contains nankō ume juice from Wakayama Prefecture, as well as nankō ume purée and extract. We first tried the 2023 version, which had very similar ingredients.
The beverage had a clear light yellow hue with a rich, sweet-tart umeshu-like aroma and subtle carbonation. Consumed chilled, the flavour of ume came through immediately, though more mellow than the aroma suggested. It began with a soft sweetness, developing into a gentle tartness mid-sip for a rich ume flavour. The subtle bubbles cleansed the palate, leaving a crisp and clean finish with no aftertaste. Despite the ume juice comprising only 1%, the fermented plum juice and plum extract delivered a bright and distinct ume flavour. The sweet acidity was elegantly balanced, making it a refreshing drink worth repurchasing.
This Asahi Mitsuya 100 Ume contained 500 mL. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2024.