This Taura Nagasaki Castella Cider is said to be an invention by a Nagasaki shopkeeper and packaged to look like a box of castella cake, a Nagasaki specialty.

The cider (which refers to soft drink in Japan) is an opaque castella yellow colour with a moderate carbonation and an aroma similar to the sweet and eggy notes of a castella cake. Served chilled, the same sweet, eggy notes of castella came through and persist to a brief lingering aftertaste. Overall, the drink delivered on its promise with its uncanny resemblance to castella in both aroma and taste. It’s surprisingly more palatable than expected, and brought to mind a less viscous eggnog without the spice and creaminess. That said, it’s a novelty cider that we’re in no rush to drink more often or in bigger quantities.

This Taura Nagasaki Castella Cider contained 2 x 95 ml. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Nagasaki, Japan in 2019.