I’m continuing the fruity theme with two more chewy treats, starting with Dole’s Banana Mix gummies, which are actually manufactured by the well-known Japanese confectionery company Fujiya, famous for their milky sweets and loveable mascot Peko-chan (though none of that is evident from this summery and simple packaging)
The inclusion of collagen in these seems to me to reflect the remarkable popularity of this substance, which I’d only ever thought of in conjunction with cosmetics, as an ingredient in Japanese sweets, drinks and even nabe. Banana Mix derives its flavour from real banana puree, as well as mango and pineapple juice.
Each piece is shaped like the Dole logo and for the most part the letters can be made out, though there were a few slightly bruised ones. Golden yellow in colour, they are more evocative of pineapple than banana, while the scent is a fruity blend of mango and banana. The gummies are loosely coated with sugar, by which I mean that none of the grains are embedded into the surface in the way of Fruit Pastels for example, and are soft and smooth beneath the sugar crystals.
Initially there is a burst of acidity, no doubt meant to represent the pineapple, which fades as the sugar dissolves, giving way to a mellow banana flavour, tempered with mango. Background notes of pineapple are only faintly detectable. The gums are nicely chewy, with good elasticity thanks to the collagen, and flavoursome to the last. Curiously, the underside feels marshmallow-y, almost like the white mallow of a Haribo fried egg, whereas the face of the Dole symbol is smoother and firmer.
Flavour-wise banana definitely dominates, but it tastes so good that this is far from a criticism. The pack looks small and weighs in at around a mere 42g, yet it contains a generous serving and can be made to last a good while. If you’re looking for a banana-based snack then I’d definitely recommend this over any dairy-based product, as the undiluted fruity taste is much better than in any banana chocolates or milk drinks I’ve tried before. Given the prominence of the banana, my only criticism would be that it might have worked better to create a mix of three individually flavoured gums – banana, mango and pineapple respectively – especially as the pineapple was hardly noticeable and therefore not really worth including.
7/10
Dole Jikkan Kajitsu Banana Mix 42g 131kcals
Next up, something for the health enthusiast: Sono Manma Yuzu
So what is it? Well, ‘sono manma’ basically means ‘as it is’ or ‘unchanged’ and yuzu is a kind of orangey-yellow citrus fruit, slightly larger than a satsuma and with a bitter and sour taste that falls somewhere between lemon and lime. Consisting simply of candied yuzu peel with a little preservative and extra vitamin C thrown in, this makes for a relatively healthy snack (so it’s not 100% unadulterated but there are no artificial colourings or flavourings) Sono Manma is produced by Lion, a prodigious manufacturer of gummies and other such candy.
The sugary fragments of varying sizes resemble ordinary citrus rind sold as a baking ingredient, except with a glittery sprinkling of sugar. As you can see, most pieces are from the outer skin which has darkened to a burnt orange tone as it’s dried, but there are a few pale yellow morsels of soft inner flesh. The intense citrus aroma reminds me of the dehydrated orange slices sometimes used in pot pourri.
The peel has about the texture of that found in marmalade, giving a good resistance when bitten into, a little chewy but quickly softening in the mouth, though the exterior is naturally much drier and slightly hard in places. On the first tasting it’s refreshingly bitter, instantly cleansing the palate, but this initial effect is reduced with every mouthful as you grow accustomed to it, allowing the sweetness of the sugar and the zesty citrus to filter through to the foreground.
I ate this last thing in the evening and liked how the bold, bittersweet flavour of the yuzu stayed with me, although I think the stimulating quality of the citrus would also make this an excellent mid-morning pick me up treat and could even be used as a garnish on cakes and desserts.
7/10
Lion Sono Manma Yuzu 86kcal