This is the Calbee Summer Potato Kishū Nankō Ume, made with new potatoes harvested in the summer of 2024 and plum flesh powder containing 90% Nankō ume from Kishū, Wakayama Prefecture.
The potato chips are thickly cut with a wavy texture, a golden-yellow hue, and dusted with pink and white specks.
The chips carried a distinct yet mellow ume aroma. On tasting, the crinkle-cut shape provided an enjoyable crunch, while the seasoning offered an initial tangy sourness from the pink ume flecks, accompanied by a fruity sweetness. Mid-bite, the sourness faded, leaving the sweetness to linger briefly before the rich, earthy potato flavour emerged and dominated through the finish.
Overall, the use of Nankō ume as a bright and stimulating seasoning delivered a refined take on the classic salt-and-vinegar profile. However, these chips lacked the savoury umami depth found in Calbee Kappa Ebisen Ripe Kishū Ume, making them less complex in comparison.
This Calbee Summer Potato Kishū Nankō Ume was produced in Japan and purchased in 2024.