Mitsuya Cider is a carbonated soft drink with a history as long as the ubiquitous cola. In Tōkyō Skytree in 2014, D and I stumbled upon an exhibit for the history of various packaged foods in Japan. One of the exhibits showed Mitsuya Cider, and the evolution of its packaging from 1884 to present day while retaining the same logo. The taste of Mitsuya Cider, however, is difficult to describe. It’s like lemonade, but there’s something more. Wikipedia describes that ‘something more’ as ginger ale, but I’m not convinced. In any case, what’s important, is that it’s tasty and Asahi has since come out with additional flavours, one of which is grape.
These were Asahi Mitsuya Cider Candy Grape, small hard candies that recreate the experience of drinking grape Mitsuya Cider, not only in taste, but also right down to the tingly sensation of carbonated soft drinks. The candy is also available in all the other flavours for Mitsuya Cider that Asahi has come out with.
According to Wikipedia:
The candy is made by mixing its ingredients and heating them until they melt, then exposing the mixture to pressurized carbon dioxide gas (about 600 pounds per square inch) and allowing it to cool. The process causes tiny high pressure bubbles to be trapped inside the candy. When placed in the mouth, coming into contact with saliva the candy breaks and dissolves, releasing the carbon dioxide from the tiny bubbles…
The candy smells and tastes of your typical grape flavour that you find flavouring candies and drinks in Japan. Out of its packaging, its an elliptical shape with a smooth surface that quickly roughens as it dissolves in your mouth. The tiny bubbles, which are apparently visible under a microscope, give a sizzling sound and leave a tingling sensation, much like when drinking carbonated drinks. They’re like a big cluster of grape-flavoured popping candy compressed for convenient mess-free consumption. The tingling sensation leaves your tongue and the roof of your mouth feeling slightly numb and stops you from eating too many at once.
These hard candies bring back the fun that otherwise makes them boring compared to gummi candy.
Asahi Mitsuya Cider Candy Grape was produced in Japan and purchased in Tōkyō, Japan in 2014.