This is the SunPack Aomori Premium Shun Ringo Toki, made with 100% juice from Toki apples—a variety developed in Aomori Prefecture through a cross between Fuji and Ōrin. Known for their crisp texture, low acidity, and honeyed sweetness, Toki apples produce a mellow yet vibrant juice. Like many Japanese apple juices, this was extracted using the mippei shibori (“sealed squeezing”) method, which prevents oxidation during processing and preserves the natural flavour and aroma. Products using this method are classified as “straight” (ストレート) juices, in contrast to reconstituted juices made from concentrate.
The juice had an opaque golden-yellow hue and a smooth, sweet apple fragrance. On tasting, a gentle, honeyed sweetness appeared upfront, developing into an aromatic and mildly acidic mid-palate that evoked a freshly bitten apple. The acidity, while understated, added a refreshing lift, before a return to full-bodied sweetness in the finish, which lingered cleanly on the palate. It brought to mind the refreshing sweetness of super-ripe Shinano Gold, but with even more nuance and clarity. Overall, this was a well-balanced, refined apple juice that showcases the varietal character of Toki apples—worth repurchasing when in season.
This SunPack Aomori Premium Shun Ringo Toki contained 280 mL. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Aomori, Japan in 2024.