This is the Nippon Yell Dried Fruit Wakayama Hassaku, made using juice from hassaku grown in Wakayama Prefecture. The hassaku is a Japanese citrus hybrid, combining pomelo and mandarin characteristics, with a strong resemblance to pomelo. The original plant was discovered near Jyoudo Temple in Innoshima, Hiroshima Prefecture. Today, most hassaku is produced in Wakayama Prefecture.
Initially called “jagada,” the fruit’s name was later changed to “hassaku,” referring to the first day of August on the old Japanese lunar calendar, which marked the fruit’s ripening on the tree.
The dried hassaku pieces varied in size and were coated with fine sugar. The rind had a deep orange hue, while the flesh was a lighter yellow-orange. They emitted a mellow, sweet citrus aroma.
The exterior of each piece was firm with a thin layer of crystallised sugar, offering a slight crunch when bitten into, but yielding effortlessly to a gentle bite. They offered a bittersweet orange flavour, reminiscent of a blend between grapefruit and mandarin. The flesh contained some fibrous membrane and had a looser texture compared to the densely packed juice vesicles found in the dried Kiyomi oranges or mikans. The flesh had a strong sourness with minimal sweetness once the sugar crystals dissolved. The rind was moderately thick, providing a zesty, aromatic flavour, along with a bold floral note. However, the bitterness from the pithy layer intensified as one chewed, lingering on the palate in the aftertaste. While this dried fruit captured the concentrated essence of hassaku, its natural bittersweet profile made it one of our less preferred options for snacking.
This Nippon Yell Dried Fruit Wakayama Hassaku contained 22 g. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2024.