It is a fruit characterised by a very complex taste that harbours notes of tangerine, orange and many other flavours. It also has a very sweet flavour. Plants grown in the open air can start being harvested at the end of February or even March. For those that are grown in greenhouses, the tasting can start as early as Christmas.

The skin of the fruit is rough and thick and easy to peel away. The flesh has a melt-in-your mouth texture, while the inner skin on the fruit wedges is thin and therefore easy to eat. In terms of its outer appearance, the round fruit has a characteristic ‘teat’ at the top. Three weeks after harvest, the residual acidity will have disappeared to make way for a delicious sweetness. Only the largest fruits with a sugar level (Brix) of over 13 and a citric acid content of less than 1 can bear the protected name of Decopon.

To extract the 100% pure Shiranui juice, the company Ito-Noen exclusively uses fruit grown in the Kishu area (Wakamaya Prefecture, south of Osaka).

Once cut in half so as not to extract the bitter taste of the skin, which is very astringent, the citrus fruits are gently squeezed to produce a 100% natural juice without any additives— the very same juice that is marketed by the company.

The members of the Monde Selection jury greatly appreciated the aroma and taste of this highly flavoured product, and made comments such as: “The juice presents a beautiful orange colour with an appealing cloudiness. The nose emanates harmonious aromas of orange and even lemon with a good overall intensity. On the palate, the aromas are quite identical to what one would expect, i.e. a pleasant taste of orange and even tangerine with lemony notes. The overall taste is perfectly harmonious with a nice balance of sweetness and acidity that confers its freshness.”

These are the qualities that earned this juice the Grand Gold award as well as this nomination for the Jury Prize!

“Each year, one product per category is awarded the Prize of the Jury as a token of excellence in know-how and quality. In order to qualify, the product must be unanimously selected as a “coup de cœur” by the jury members. The winner of the Prize of the Jury is then selected from a group of just 5 nominees, which makes this award an even greater honour for the recipient.”