This is the Kasugai Tsubu Gumi Premium Rich Strawberry, a limited-edition release featuring three distinct strawberry varieties: Tochiotome, Shiro, and Amaou.
Each flavour was evenly represented in the packet, with a near-balanced ratio of 19:18:17. The jellybean had a double-layer structure, incorporating fruit juice into both the outer candy shell and inner gummy core to produce a multidimensional flavour experience.
The packaging featured a flavour chart mapping each variety across three axes—juiciness (top), richness (bottom left), and freshness (bottom right)—to illustrate their intended profiles.
Tochiotome
A deep pink soft candy shell encased a translucent red gummy core, containing the equivalent of 5.29% Tochiotome strawberry juice. The initial impression was one of lively acidity from the shell, followed by a sweet, jam-like depth emerging from the gummy centre. “Juicy” aptly described this variety, with its aromatic tartness and vivid strawberry character.
Shiro
A pale pink shell enclosed a translucent light-orange core, with no juice from white strawberries used. The shell presented a balanced sweetness and gentle tartness, while the centre contributed a rich, jammy sweetness. “Fresh” best captured its balanced, softly aromatic profile.
Amaou
A deep red shell surrounded a translucent red core, containing 5.39% Amaou strawberry juice. This variety offered a bright tanginess from the outer shell, with aromatic sweetness developing through the centre. “Refreshing” suited it well, defined by its clear tart-sweet interplay that avoided excessive richness.
Overall, a refined and thoughtfully layered confection, highlighting the distinctive character of each strawberry variety while maintaining harmony across sweetness, acidity, and aroma. The subtle inclusion of apple juice stayed in the background, allowing the strawberry notes to dominate. In line with the broader Tsubu Gumi Premium series, the execution of texture and fruit complexity was impressive.
This Kasugai Tsubu Gumi Premium Rich Strawberry contained 75 g. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Ichinoseki, Japan in 2024.