Speaking of winter, mandarin oranges at a kotatsu (a table over a kotatsu). Even if you don't have a kotatsu, you can still enjoy mikan. The moment when the sweet and juicy juice sinks into your thirsty throat is bliss, isn't it?

--I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do it. According to a household survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, per household expenditures on mandarin oranges (in this case, we refer to "Onshu mandarin oranges," which we often eat) have decreased by less than half compared to 20 years ago. Are people not eating oranges much anymore? Perhaps we are in a rut...?

Celebrities suddenly appeared in the world of citrus fruit

In Ehime Prefecture, which boasts the largest citrus harvest in Japan, a new variety has been introduced that could be called the "celebrity of the citrus world. It is called " Ehime Queen Splash. The expected price per piece is over 1,000 yen (!). It is a super-premium citrus brand!


This new brand is made from carefully selected "top quality" Kanpei citrus, an original variety bred by Ehime Prefecture, that meets certain standards in terms of sugar content and size. The brand's image is that of an "adult woman.


The unique crisp texture and rich sweetness that bursts from the plump pulp are said to be "unlike any other citrus fruit up to now. The "Ganpei" itself is said to be an extremely sweet variety, so the Queen Splash, selected even more carefully, must be even sweeter and tastier....

The Engeboku editorial staff got their hands on a Queen Splash!

So, by using that trick, the En-En-Eat editorial staff has succeeded in obtaining the coveted citrus celebrity, Queen Splash (*not a bad thing)!



The aroma of fresh citrus bursts forth the moment it is cut. Several staff members within a two-meter radius looked back at us.


Looking at the cross section, the outer rind (outermost skin) is unexpectedly thin! This may be surprising given its size. Furthermore, you can see that the fruit is tightly packed between the outer rind and the skin without any space between them. There are no seeds.


The endocarp (jyosou membrane) that surrounds the pulp is also very thin. It is so thin that it tears and peels off when the bunch is peeled off.


When you pop a plump and plentiful cluster into your mouth, you can feel its elasticity! When I chewed, each piece of fruit popped and melted, and the sweetness of the fruit overflowed! There is no sourness whatsoever.

The inner skin is thin, so it can be easily chewed, and there is neither a squishy, skin-like texture nor the bitterness characteristic of the skin. The only thing that spreads in the mouth is the ripe sweetness. It is as if you are eating a sweet. This is the richest kumquat I have ever tasted. This will wake up even those who feel stuck in a rut with mandarin oranges.


Queen Splash is in season from late January to late February. In the Tokyo metropolitan area, they are available at the main Mitsukoshi store in Nihonbashi, and in Kansai at the Hankyu Umeda store. They will also be available in Ehime Prefecture from February 8. The price at Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi will be 1,620 yen (!). The company is also planning to launch a new product, "The Taste of Japan," in the near future. It is a bit expensive, but if you like mandarin oranges, it is worth trying at least once. Why not consider purchasing them when you have some extra money in your pocket, such as on payday?