This is the Asahi Mitsuya Ume Shigoto. This edition featured 1% soaked plum syrup and Nankō plum juice sourced from Wakayama Prefecture. The plum syrup was produced using a low-heat process designed to preserve and highlight the fruit’s natural aroma and flavour, aiming to deliver what is described as the “original taste of the fruit.”

The beverage had the same clear, light yellow hue as the 2023–2024 iterations, accompanied by a sweet-sour ume aroma and soft carbonation. When consumed chilled, the flavour profile opened with a gentle sweetness, quickly developing into a mellow tartness mid-sip. The ume character was immediately evident—less intense than the aroma implied but nonetheless vibrant—evoking the flavour of fresh ume syrup concentrate with a distinct sweet-tart, apricot-like note. The fine carbonation lifted the palate, contributing to a crisp, clean finish with no lingering aftertaste.

Despite the ume content being just 1%, the flavour was impressively define. The sweet acidity was well-judged, offering a light yet expressive and smooth profile. Overall, this was a well-balanced and refreshing interpretation of ume that merits revisiting with each annual release.

This Asahi Mitsuya Ume Shigoto contained 500 mL. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2025.