Astar Ripe Okinawa Shikuwasa Chu-hi Wins Gold at 2026 Monde Selection

■ About Monde Selection
Established in 1961, Monde Selection is an international quality evaluation institute headquartered in Belgium (※2). This product received the Gold Quality Award in the Spirits & Liqueurs category, and the award ceremony will be held on June 9, 2026, at the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs in Paris, France.

■ About the Product

《Rare Ripe Okinawan Shikuwasa》
Domestic shikuwasa is a rare citrus fruit almost entirely produced in Okinawa Prefecture, with an annual production of approximately 3,500 tons. This is less than 1/200th the scale of satsuma mandarin production (over 600,000 tons) (※3). Furthermore, the majority of shikuwasa distributed in the market is "ao-giri" (green, unripe fruit) harvested in August-September, which is generally acidic and used as a processing ingredient. The raw material for this product uses only Okinawan shikuwasa that has been carefully ripened on the tree until winter, without being harvested during the ao-giri season. Ripe fruit carries a higher risk of bird damage and is nurtured through the tireless efforts of producers, making it a truly rare fruit that can only be enjoyed during certain periods even in its native Okinawa.

《Rich Flavor from the Straight Juice Method》
We adopt the "straight juice method," which uses freshly squeezed juice without heat concentration. You can enjoy the mellow acidity, subtle sweetness, and deep aroma unique to ripe shikuwasa without losing its original qualities.

《Packaging》
The packaging features a flag-shaped eye-catch symbolizing the brand's "straight juice" at the top, with a large illustration of ripe shikuwasa fruit in the center, creating a design that immediately conveys the appeal of the raw material. The top lid uses a luxurious gold color, creating a small luxury in everyday life.

■ Development Background
Astar is a series of chu-hi made with straight juice from domestic fruits, born from the desire to "deliver the appeal of domestic fruits to more people." We have worked with producers in various regions across Japan, including Okinawa, Hiroshima, Setouchi, Wakayama, Yamanashi, Fukushima, Ehime, and Iwate, to develop and offer straight juice chu-hi that brings out the unique characteristics of each fruit.

This product, "Ripe Okinawa Shikuwasa Chu-hi," is one of the flagship products in the series, aiming to deliver the charm of rare Okinawan ripe shikuwasa along with the natural taste unique to straight juice.

■ Comment from Representative Director and President
"This product was developed when I was in charge of product planning. While searching for specialty fruits across Japan, I encountered ripe Okinawan shikuwasa. Generally, shikuwasa is predominantly 'ao-giri' (unripe) with strong acidity, often used for processing. However, the ripe fruit I was introduced to had a natural sweetness reminiscent of mandarins, a rich aroma, and the refreshing quality unique to shikuwasa, all harmoniously balanced. Its impressive taste was so good that it could be enjoyed as juice alone. This encounter with 'unexpected deliciousness' became a major driving force for commercialization.

Furthermore, I learned from farmers that even when ripened, there were no sales channels, and the fruit would often fall from the trees without being harvested. Our company promised the producers to continuously purchase ripe shikuwasa juice, believing in its definite quality and potential. Fruits that might not have been fully utilized are now reborn as high-quality ingredients for chu-hi.

This product embodies the core philosophy of our Astar series: 'maximizing the natural appeal of fruits through straight juice and delivering value along with the producers' passion.' It is a foundational product that reaffirms our commitment to sincerely addressing the individuality and deliciousness of domestic fruits, from standard to rare, and delivering them to customers as products.

We are deeply honored that this product has been highly evaluated by an international quality assessment organization. Encouraged by this award, we will continue to develop products that deliver new appeal and value of domestic fruits."

Aseed Beverage Plus Co., Ltd.

Representative Director and President Yohei Terachi

※1 Hosted by the Japan Food Analyst Association. 61st Japan Food Selection Grand Prix (awarded March 2023)
※2 Evaluation criteria: 5 items—packaging, visual, aroma, taste, overall judgment—evaluated by independent judges. Monde Selection 2026 involves over 3,000 products from 150 participating countries. Source: Monde Selection official website (www.monde-selection.com)
※3 Shikuwasa (Citrus depressa) domestic production