Aster Sugar-Free: Winter-Harvested Ripe Shikuwasa / Rare Citrus 'Ainan Gold' Launching June 2nd

Do you love sugar-free chuhai but find the fruit flavor lacking? To address this, Aseed Beverage Plus is launching the 'Aster Sugar-Free' series, which uses domestic straight fruit juice. Despite being sugar-free, we aimed for a juicy, fresh flavor as if you were biting into the fruit itself. You can enjoy the authentic taste that only domestic straight juice can provide.

■ About the Aster Sugar-Free Series
- Product Name: Aster Sugar-Free (Okinawa Ripe Shikuwasa / Ehime Ainan Gold)
- Launch Date: June 2, 2026 (Tuesday)
- Alcohol Content: 5%
- Price: Suggested retail price 210 yen (excluding tax) / Content: 350ml
- Sales Channels: Retail stores, E-commerce sites
- Features: Uses domestic straight juice; zero sugar and zero purines

To deliver the 'authentic taste of fruit' more clearly to our customers, we have integrated our popular 'Adult CRAFT Sugar-Free Sour' into the 'Aster' brand. 'Aster' is a chuhai series where you can enjoy a juicy, fresh fruit sensation. Our flagship product, 'Ripe Okinawa Shikuwasa Chuhai,' received the Gold Award at the 2026 Monde Selection.

In recent years, the sugar-free chuhai market has expanded, with growing needs for refreshing tastes that pair well with meals. However, some users still feel that 'a bit more fruitiness would be nice.' Therefore, this product uses domestic straight juice to achieve both a refreshing finish and a rich, authentic fruit flavor.

We have also adopted a sophisticated package design that intuitively conveys the fruitiness, allowing customers to visually experience the freshness and deliciousness of the fruit. Aster Sugar-Free is proposed as a new type of chuhai that aims to balance 'sugar-free' with 'fruit deliciousness.'

■ Two Rare Fruits from Different Regions and Seasons
《Okinawa Ripe Shikuwasa》
Most domestic Shikuwasa is produced in Okinawa Prefecture. Over 90% of shipments are for processing, and since unripe fruit with high acidity is suitable for processing, most Shikuwasa on the market are 'green-harvested' (harvested around August-September).
This product uses only rare, ripe Shikuwasa from Okinawa. Ripened on the tree until winter, it features a 'mandarin-like sweetness' unique to the fruit, combined with the gorgeous aroma characteristic of Shikuwasa and a mild, smooth acidity, resulting in a complex and deep flavor. It also features a refreshing aftertaste where the mellow sweetness and crisp acidity harmonize.

《Ehime Ainan Gold》
This product uses Kawachi Bankan juice grown in Ainan Town, the southernmost tip of Ehime Prefecture. Kawachi Bankan is a rare citrus that accounts for only about 1% of Japan's total citrus production, and Ainan Town is known as the top producer. 'Ainan Gold' is a brand name named by Ainan Town in 2007. It is a Japanese grapefruit that winters on the tree, ripens to a golden color in spring, and reaches its peak in early summer. It is characterized by low bitterness, elegant sweetness, and refreshing acidity.
You can enjoy the gentle sweetness and juicy fruit sensation unique to Kawachi Bankan, along with the crispness of a sugar-free drink. The golden fruit ripened in the sea-breeze-scented land of Ainan brings a rich citrus feel to the refreshing drink, making it a perfect companion for meals.