This is the Nippon Yell Gummy Sendai Strawberry, made with purée from strawberries grown in Miyagi Prefecture.
Miyagi is the leading producer of strawberries in the Tōhoku region. Its coastal farming areas were devastated by the tsunami following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, with more than 90% of cultivation facilities in Watari and Yamamoto towns destroyed. Recovery efforts have focused on building new “strawberry complexes” to restore production to pre-disaster levels. In 2012, “Sendai Strawberry” was registered as a regional collective trademark to support these efforts, strengthen branding, and promote varieties suited to Miyagi’s climate. Rather than a single cultivar, the name refers to three primary varieties cultivated across the prefecture: Mōikko, Tochiotome, and Niko Niko Berry.
Each gummy measured approximately 2 cm in diameter and 1 cm in height, with an opaque light pink-red colour and a vivid strawberry aroma carrying a juicy, sour sharpness. On tasting, the sour crystals on the surface provided a lively initial tang, followed by a firm, bouncy texture that yielded to a softer, jelly-like core. The exterior reinforced the tartness of the coating, releasing a salivating sourness from the outset. However, this was balanced by a bright, fragrant sweetness from the jelly centre, delivering a rich and fresh strawberry flavour. Compared to the Gunma Yayoihime version, this offered a more sour-forward profile—less like strawberry jam, and more reminiscent of biting into a fresh strawberry. A worthwhile one worth repurchasing.
This Nippon Yell Gummy Sendai Strawberry contained 40 g. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2024.