🍋Let's explore Okinawa's lemon-flavored day! A roundup of must-buy Okinawa-limited lemon souvenirs 😍

September 22nd is Okinawa Lime Day, and we've decided to take you to Ogimi Village, known as the "Longevity Village" and "Lime Village," to see what activities are happening that day! We also found many lime-related products throughout the streets and alleys, showing how much Okinawans love and value limes. We'll pick some out to show you in the latter part!

In Okinawa, citrus fruits, including limes, are collectively called "Kunibu," meaning it takes nine years from seed to fruit. The pronunciation of "Kunibu" is similar to "922," and since September is the peak season for limes, September 22nd was designated as Lime Day, also known as Kunibu Day. Every year on Lime Day, many businesses and citizens enthusiastically participate with events, discounts, and other celebrations to express gratitude for the limes that bring health and longevity to the people of Okinawa.

First, we went to the Ogimi Village Visitor Center, the "Road Station." Upon entering the plaza, we saw a booth from Okinawa Prefecture promoting lime juice. At the booth, we could sample lime juice and lime vinegar shaved ice, and even try our own lime juice. We used two halved limes, put them into a hand-operated juicer, and squeezed them several times to make a small cup of 100% lime juice – a truly tangy experience!

The staff also told us several DIY recipes. Okinawans not only drink lime juice, but also use it as a condiment in cold noodles, salads, soy sauce, and even make it into cheese—it's incredibly tangy and refreshing!

Because it was Lemon Day, customers who spent a certain amount could choose a free bag of lemons to take home. We carefully selected a large bag of lemons to bring back to Hong Kong as souvenirs. Adding a little lemon juice to the sauce when making hot pot adds a refreshing flavor and reduces the greasiness.

Daozhi Station Ogimi Village Visitor Center
道の駅おおぎみやんばるの仙ビジターセンター

📍 Okinawa Prefecture Ogimi Village Zijinba 95

Next, we visited the Daikimi Lime Plantation. This facility combines a factory, shop, and cafe, allowing visitors to learn about and enjoy Okinawan limes. We first went to the factory to watch the lime juice production process; through a glass window, we could clearly see the machinery in operation.

Okinawa produced approximately 3,000 tons of limes this year, making it the largest lime producer in Japan and the world. After harvesting, the limes undergo thorough cleaning before being juiced using a centrifugal juicer, peel and all.

The lemons come in two varieties: green-cut lemons and golden lemons, which are harvested at different times. Green-cut lemons are unripe lemons, harvested from September to November, and have a sour taste with a slightly astringent peel. Golden lemons are fully ripe lemons, harvested from December to January, and have a slightly less sour and astringent taste, while being much sweeter.

Citrus fruits are rich in hesperidin, which has antioxidant, anti-obesity, and skin-beautifying effects. The hesperidin content of green-cut citrus fruits is three times that of golden citrus fruits! The citrus juice commonly found in the market is usually made from green-cut citrus fruits, among which those harvested in September are the most nutritious. Therefore, there are also citrus juices made from September citrus fruits that are limited to this month, called extra virgin citrus juice.

At the Daigimi Village Lemon Garden, we also visited the café to sample their signature lemon dessert, "Chestnut x Pistachio x Lemon Mont Blanc." The lemon-colored Mont Blanc cream on top was incredibly smooth and delicate, gently enveloping chestnuts, cocoa shortbread cookies, and fresh cream. Garnished with pistachios, lemon sauce, and chocolate, and served on Okinawan ceramic yachimman, it was truly a work of art. One bite, and the rich aroma of pistachios and the refreshing tartness of lemon burst forth instantly. The pistachios added layers of flavor to the Mont Blanc, making it absolutely delicious!

Beyond lemon desserts, the café offers a variety of specialty desserts made with Okinawan ingredients. We also tried the "Yamahara Tiramisu" (left picture), a rich chocolate filling coated with Italian mascarpone cheese and topped with cream made with Okinawan lemons—it was incredibly delicious and smooth, leaving us wanting more!

In addition, there is a newly launched dessert, "Tangmu Black Honey Brown". (Right image) . Kara wood is Okinawan cinnamon with a mild minty aroma. The Mont Blanc base, made of almond cookies, caramel almond biscuits, and almond powder, is lightly wrapped in karama snow powder with Mont Blanc cream made from chestnuts and kara wood, and topped with black honey made from Okinawan brown sugar. The multi-layered flavor is unforgettable!

Dayiwei Lemon Garden
Ogimi シークヮーサーパーク

📍 1424-1 Tsunami, Oigimi Village, Kunigami County, Okinawa Prefecture

Speaking of lemon-flavored desserts, we must mention the lemon-flavored products found in convenience stores, general stores, and more. Okinawans highly value this healthy and delicious fruit, so lemon-based products are practically everywhere in Okinawa! Here's a roundup of must-buy popular Okinawa-limited souvenirs!

Lemon Gummies

The one on the left is an Okinawa-limited souvenir made by the famous HI-CHEW. The gummy candy is full of refreshing lemon tartness and is not too sweet. Highly recommended!

The picture on the right is Okinawa lemon-flavored Guminchu, which are square green gummies that burst with lemon flavor in your mouth and are very chewy! In addition to Okinawa lemon flavor, Guminchu also comes in Okinawa pineapple, Okinawa mango, and Okinawa acerola cherry flavors.

70g of lemon throat lozenges

Made with 100% Okinawa lime juice and moonflower leaves, and filled with sweet and sour lime powder, it's incredibly satisfying to eat! After eating it, your throat feels very refreshed.

Nostalgic Lemon Chewing Gum

The small box comes in a nostalgic paper package and contains small pieces of lemon-flavored chewing gum. The tangy taste is very refreshing, and chewing it can help you concentrate on studying or working.

Lemon Potato Chips 58g

Calbee has always had many regionally exclusive potato chips, and Okinawa is no exception. Made with Okinawa lime and Ishigaki salt, these thin, crisp chips, combined with the slightly sour aroma of lime, are incredibly appetizing!

Lemon Awamori

Zanpa シークヮーサーサワー 6 degrees 350ml

It has the unique refreshing tartness of bergamot, followed by a lingering hoppy sake flavor and a slightly astringent taste of fruit peel, which complement each other perfectly. The alcohol content is low, making it suitable even for first-time hoppy sake drinkers! The can is also beautifully decorated with exquisite ethnic patterns.

720ml of lemon black sweet wine

Our shop always sells Chukō Shuzo's black amami, the only amami made with black koji in Okinawa. It's a non-alcoholic beverage made from 100% natural rice with no additives. Our limited-edition lemon black amami, sold only during the summer, is also very popular! Compared to the original flavor, it has a slightly sour taste, adding a refreshing sensation and making it easier to drink.

5ml of lemon essential oil

This is an essential oil exclusively sold at the Dayiwei Village Lime Garden. It's made from the aroma extracted from lime peel, giving it a rich, fruity scent that evokes the feeling of being in an orchard. The citrus aromatic components, including lime, stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, effectively eliminating drowsiness and leaving you feeling refreshed. It also improves blood circulation and aids in metabolism and digestion!

Lemon Salt & Lemon Black Pepper

This lemon salt combines Yagaji salt and Okinawa lemon peel, making it a delicious accompaniment to fried foods, sushi, and other dishes!

The lemon black pepper uses ground black pepper and lemon zest, making it a very fragrant and delicious accompaniment to meat dishes, noodles, and more!