I have learned a lot about world flavors through candy. One that I’ve become obsessed with are Yuzu.
Yuzu is rare in the United States but a popular and hardy variety of citrus in Japan. The flavor is a cross between grapefruit, tangerine with a little note of lemon and bergamot. For the most part the rind of the citrus is used though the juice is also included but not as notable. I was so entranced with the candies and marmalades I’ve been eating that I got a tree for my back yard. (Here’s a photo of a couple that I picked from my tree.)
So when I saw that Kasugai, a makers of one of the best gummis in the world, I bought up two packages. The gummis are more expensive than the European and American varieties, but also a bit more precious and special. The Kasugai Yuzu Gummy Candy comes in a rather light bag, with only 3.59 ounces inside. Each piece is individually wrapped and a bit larger than the mass of an ordinary gummi bear.
The gummis are nearly one inch in diameter, a cute little domed disk. They have a soft, powdery skin instead of a glaze of oil or wax. They smell like lemonade. The flavor inside is a bit more complex. The tartness is good, the texture is smooth with a jello-like chew that dissolves quickly. It’s truly a mix of grapefruit and tangerine, the bitterness of the grapefruit and harsh oily flavor is combined with the fruity, sunny flavors of the tangerine juice.
They’re really satisfying and have a fresh, zesty lingering note. Two or three were plenty as a little treat between meals for me. The individual wrapping means I can throw a few in my bag or just throw them in a dish.
They are ridiculously expensive, I think I spent $3.49 for a bag. But it’s easy to moderate my consumption, I’ve managed to make my two bags last quite while. The intensity of the flavor and the wrappers mean these are more of a solitary treat than the kind that I might mindlessly nibble on during a movie. There are no artificial colors but they do use artificial flavors. They’re made on shared equipment with milk, wheat, shellfish, peanuts and tree nuts.
Related Candies
- Bissinger’s Lemon Ginger Yuzu Gummi Pandas
- Tea Forte Minteas Lemongrass Yuzu
- Japanese KitKats: Yuzu & Red Bean Soup
- Kasugai Pineapple Gummy
- HiCHEW Yuzu & Valencia
- Dalandan & Juicy Ponkan Mentos
Name: |
Yuzu Gummy Candy |
RATING:
- SUPERB
- YUMMY
- TASTY
- WORTH IT
- TEMPTING
- PLEASANT
- BENIGN
- UNAPPEALING
- APPALLING
- INEDIBLE
|
Brand: |
Kasugai |
Place Purchased: |
Woori Market (Little Tokyo) |
Price: |
$3.49 |
Size: |
3.59 ounces |
Calories per ounce: |
101 |
Categories: |
Candy, Kasugai, Gummi Candy, 9-Yummy, Japan |
I think Gasugai is a minor as a gummy maker in Japan. They are well know as a hard candy maker.
Nah, Kasugai makes lots of different flavored gummies; they are all quite good. My favorites are the lychee and peach.
I get these pretty often from a record store. I must say that the Lemon ones are the best, then the grape is right behind it. Even though there are still many more to try the lemon will probably always stay my favorite.
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