Uwa Gold Japanese Grapefruit
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Uwa Gold citrus is a large varietal, averaging 250 to 450 grams in weight. It has an oval to oblong appearance with a tapered bulge on one end. The fruit’s skin is smooth, glossy, taut, and thick, covered in prominent oil glands that give the surface a finely pebbled, pitted appearance. The skin ripens from green to shades of golden yellow and can be peeled by hand, but it may be slightly difficult. Underneath the surface, the yellow flesh is divided into 10 to 11 segments by thin membranes. The flesh also has a soft, tender, aqueous, and succulent consistency and is seedless or contains a few ivory seeds. At the beginning of the season, the fruits are juicier and softer, and towards the end of the season, they become chewier but sweeter. Uwa Gold citrus is aromatic when peeled or sliced and the fruits should feel heavy for their size when ripe. The fruits have a refreshing, sweet, and moderately acidic taste, creating a pleasant sweet, sour, non-bitter flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Uwa Gold citrus is available in the spring through summer.
Current Facts
Uwa Gold, botanically classified as Citrus maxima, is a Japanese variety belonging to the Rutaceae family. The late-ripening citrus is thought to have been created from a natural hybrid of a pomelo and is a rare species favored for its sweet and sour taste. Uwa Gold is a brand name for the citrus variety known as Kawachi Bankan. The variety was first discovered in Kawachi town in the Kumamoto Prefecture in the 20th century, and “Bankan” means “late-ripening citrus,” giving the variety its Kawachi Bankan name. Kawachi Bankan is also known by several other regional names throughout Japan, including Mishokan, Ainan Gold, and Nada Orange in the Ehime Prefecture, Juicy Fruit, Amakusa Bankan, and Juicy Orange in Kumamoto Prefecture, South Orange in the Kagoshima Prefecture, and Natsu-Buntan, Bishou Citrus, and Japanese Grapefruit, a name given for the fruit’s resemblance to a grapefruit. Uwa Gold is the representative brand for the variety grown in the Ehime Prefecture, the largest growing region for the fruits. Uwa is derived from Uwajima city, and the fruits are marketed as a seasonal summer specialty. Uwa Gold citrus is rare and often challenging to find in commercial markets. The variety is primarily sold directly to consumers and has limited production due to its long growing season, being overwintered and kept on the trees for 12 to 15 months before being harvested. Despite these difficult characteristics, Uwa Gold citrus is a niche delicacy and is favored for fresh, sweet, or savory preparations.
Nutritional Value
Uwa Gold citrus is a source of fiber to regulate the digestive tract, magnesium to control nerve functions, and calcium to support bones and teeth. The variety also provides vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, iron to develop the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream, vitamin D to assist with calcium and phosphorus absorption, and B vitamins. Bitter portions of the rind and skin contain naringin, a type of flavonoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to protect the cells against the damage caused by free radicals.
Applications
Uwa Gold citrus has a sweet and sour, floral, and fruity taste suited for fresh preparations. The variety is traditionally eaten out of hand and can be peeled and segmented or sliced into pieces. Uwa Gold citrus is appreciated for its aroma, texture, and flavor, and the flesh can be tossed into salads, mixed into herb-based side dishes, stirred into fruit medleys, or served on appetizer platters. The fruits can also be chopped into salsas, slaws, and ceviche, used as a topping over breakfast dishes, or incorporated as a twist on the classic carpaccio. In addition to raw preparations, Uwa Gold citrus is popularly blended into juices, smoothies, shakes, and sparkling beverages. In Japan, it is also added to various drinks marketed for sports and cocktails. It is less common to use Uwa Gold citrus in cooked preparations due to their rarity, but the citrus is sometimes simmered into jams, jellies, and marmalades. Uwa Gold citrus can also be used as flavorings in fillings for desserts and baked goods, cooked into sauces for meats, or infused into salad dressings. The peels are also candied as a sweet treat. Uwa Gold citrus pairs well with herbs such as mint, cilantro, shiso, and parsley, nuts including peanuts, pistachios, and almonds, meats such as beef, pork, and poultry, seafood, and other fruits including grapes, strawberries, and melons. Whole, unopened fruits should be stored in a cool, dry, and dark location with ample air ventilation. The fruits can also be stored in the refrigerator drawer when kept in a plastic bag for a few weeks.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Uwa Gold citrus is featured as part of the wardrobe of the cartoon-like mascot of Ainan town in Japan. Mascots are a prevalent marketing tool used among cities in Japan to promote tourism, products, and businesses and are commonly known as yuru-kyara or yuru-chara. The name yuru-kyara roughly translates from Japanese to mean “relaxed character,” and the mascot from Ainan town is named Naashi-kun. Ainan town is located in the Ehime Prefecture, one of the largest growing regions of Uwa Gold in the country, and the town sought to promote this specialty citrus through its character. Naashi-kun is a Japanese otter that wears a hat of Uwa Gold citrus, also referred to as Ainan Gold. In Japan, these regional mascots have widely increased in popularity throughout the 21st century, and some of the mascots have become so famous that they even have their own social media profiles, further bringing the characters to life.
Geography/History
Uwa Gold citrus is native to Japan and was discovered growing as a chance seedling in Kawachi town in the Kumamoto Prefecture. The variety was noticed in the garden of Mr. Tokusaburo Nishimura during the Taisho Period, sometime between 1912 and 1926, and is thought to be a hybrid variety derived from a buntan, a type of pomelo. The citrus was named Kawachi Bankan and was introduced to other growing regions in the late 20th century. Kawachi Bankan was notably planted in Ainan town in the Ehime Prefecture in 1971, as the variety thrived in the region's mild, frost-free climate. It was also planted in several other prefectures in Japan and is cultivated as a specialty citrus. Today, Uwa Gold has remained mostly localized to Japan, sometimes being planted in research gardens worldwide. In Japan, the citrus is mainly grown in the Ehime Prefecture, followed by the Kumamoto, Kochi, Wakayama, Kagoshima, and Miyazaki Prefectures.
