This is the Nippon Yell Gummy Ehime Beni Madonna, made with juice from the Beni Madonna, a premium citrus variety developed in Ehime Prefecture in 2005, also known as Ehime Kashi No. 28. The Beni Madonna is prized for its jelly-like texture, sweet juice, and distinct aroma. To protect its delicate, thin peel from rain, the fruit is grown indoors, with bags placed over each one. In 2007, the variety became a protected cultivar, with only fruits meeting strict sorting standards being labelled as Beni Madonna oranges.
“Beni” translates from Japanese to describe a dark red colour, while “Madonna” is taken from a character in the popular Japanese novel Botchan by Natsume Soseki. The novel’s heroine, known for her beauty, shares her name with this citrus variety. Set in Ehime Prefecture, specifically Matsuyama City, Botchan connects the Beni Madonna orange and the region’s literary heritage.
Each gummy was opaque, light orange in colour, approximately 2 cm in diameter and 1 cm in height, with a sweet orange aroma that had low acidity. Upon tasting, the exterior crystals provided a slight crunch before giving way to the gummy’s resilient outer texture. The core was more supple, with a jelly-like consistency offering a similar smooth, rich sweetness as the aroma. This transitioned into a subtle tanginess, enhanced by the sour crystals on the outside. The gummy’s elasticity extended the chew, allowing the citrus flavour to spread across the palate and linger, reminiscent of the soft, melt-in-the-mouth texture of the fruit itself.
This Nippon Yell Gummy Ehime Beni Madonna contained 40 g. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2024.