This is the Kimino Ume Sparkling Juice. It contained 12% juice and purée from ume grown in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan and whole-pressed with Hyogo region water and organic sugar cane.
The beverage was a translucent pale golden tan colour with a tart stone fruit aroma, specks of the fruit suspended throughout, and moderate carbonation. Served chilled, notes of the fruit’s flesh came through immediately with fragrant apricot notes accompanied by a bright tartness that developed in the body with a very restrained sweetness before the bubbles cleansed the palate for a clean aftertaste. The tartness of the stone fruit defined its overall flavour, tasting much like the juice from the fresh fruit itself and without the bold sweetness from ‘teas’ made by diluting concentrated syrup of ume. While its flavour draws similarities to hawthorn due to the lack of sweetness, its tartness was enjoyable and refreshing.
This Kimino Ume Sparkling Water contained 250 mL. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2022.