This is the Sowa Kajuen Nomu Mikan, made with 100% juice from Arita mikan produced in Wakayama Prefecture. Unlike many juices that include the skin during processing, this juice is crafted exclusively from the mandarin flesh. After the skin is removed, the peeled mandarins are finely crushed, and the juice is triple-strained to eliminate coarse skin while preserving finely crushed, nutritious fibre, which is then blended back into the juice. The entire process is carried out in a sealed environment to prevent oxidation and maintain the freshness of the fruit.
The juice had an opaque, bright orange hue and a sweet mikan aroma. On tasting, it had a thick yet smooth mouthfeel (free from fibrous textures) that coated the palate with a rich and vibrant mikan flavour. The pronounced sweetness and mellow acidity mirrored the taste of fresh mandarins. The sealed squeezing method preserved the essence of the fruit, delivering a clean and fresh flavour reminiscent of eating a perfectly ripe mikan. Notably, there was no trace of bitterness or harshness often associated with juices made from concentrate.
This was a delightful example of premium mandarin juice, with its quality evident in both its taste and meticulous production process.
This Sowa Kajuen Nomu Mikan contained 180 mL. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Fukushima, Japan in 2024.