This is the Kanro Yawaraka Hachimitsu Ume, featuring pickled Japanese plums.
Each bag contained 6 individually sealed plums, each with its own message.
Each plum measured approximately 3 cm in diameter and 1.5 cm in height, with an orange-brown hue and a sweet-tart ume aroma.
On tasting, the wet surface provided an initial sour acidity and a slightly rough exterior, which gave way easily to a soft and moist interior. The flavour was dominated by an immediate and overwhelming intensity of saltiness and sourness, with the honey aspect almost undetectable. As the flesh separated from the seed, the saltiness reached near-bitter levels, while the sourness built to an eye-watering sharpness. While undeniably bracing, the overall experience was unbalanced and unpleasant, making the description of ‘sweet pickled plum with honey’ misleading.
This Kanro Yawaraka Hachimitsu Ume contained 40 g. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2025.