Mikan — or mandarin oranges — is one of the regional specialities for Wakayama Prefecture in Japan. And this Kawaguchi Seika Mikan Chan uses the juice from the mikan grown in Wakayama.

Each piece is hard candy sealed individually in a package illustrated with Mikan Chan’s eight facial expressions.

Each candy is 2.5 cm in diameter, an opaque orange colour, and in the shape of a ring with segments that resemble whole peeled mikan.

The candy has a sweet orange aroma with a gentle sourness through and through. Upon tasting, the association with orange is strong initially but becomes evidently mikan by the body as we note the mellower flavour with a pronounced sweetness and distinct absence of any bitterness usually associated with orange flavours. While the flavour doesn’t scream mikan to us immediately, the candy provides an enjoyable 5 or so minutes to dissolve without the mouth-numbing sensation in orange foods caused the oils of the fruit.

This Kawaguchi Seika Mikan Chan contained 100 g or 13 pieces. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Tōkyō, Japan in 2018.