This is the Nippon Yell Gummy Ōita Fully Ripe Kabosu, made with juice from kabosu grown in Ōita Prefecture. While green kabosu are typically harvested in summer, labour shortages and an ageing farming population mean some fruits remain on the tree. These are left to mature in the summer sun until autumn, when their skins turn pale yellow and their flavour develops into a more balanced interplay of sourness and sweetness.

Each gummy was dome-shaped, about 2 cm in diameter and 1 cm in height, with a bright yellow hue and a mellow citrus aroma. The surface was lightly dusted with fine sour powder, providing an immediate tang, before giving way to a firm, bouncy shell surrounding a softer, jelly-like core.

On tasting, the flavour opened with sharp tartness, amplified by the surface coating, before mellow acidity and citrus brightness emerged. As the core softened on the palate, a floral quality developed mid-body, while the chewy shell prolonged the experience and brought the sweet-sour balance into focus, finishing with lingering floral citrus notes.

Overall, a distinct expression of kabosu, with a flavour profile less memorable than yuzu yet carrying its own mellow, balanced character.

This Nippon Yell Gummy Ōita Fully Ripe Kabosu contained 40 g. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Tōkyō, Japan in 2024.