How much do you know about oranges December 27, 16:59

Can you tell which one is sweeter by comparing these two mandarin oranges?

You can't know unless you try it, right?

Actually, I thought so too.

That's right, until I learned about the citrus qualifications.

(Matsuyama Broadcasting Station Reporter Yoshino Teshigahara)

A citrus sommelier?

“I passed the citrus sommelier exam,” said

a friend I met in Yawatahama.

Even within Ehime Prefecture, which is known for producing citrus fruits, this area is particularly active in production, and is known for its branded mandarin oranges such as "Maana Mikan" and "Hinomaru Mikan."

After writing many news stories at the Yawatahama branch, I decided to test my knowledge and take the test in November.

The “citrus sommelier license system” started in the fall of 2020.

Mr. Shinji Ninomiya, a third-generation citrus farmer in Uwajima City, got the idea from an acquaintance that ``it would be interesting if there was a citrus sommelier for wine and vegetables.'' I launched it with a member who said.

Shinji Ninomiya, Chairman

: “Citrus is a big presence in Ehime, but even if it is talked about from an economic perspective such as yield and sales, I thought it was a bit weak when it came to cultural enjoyment. Citrus farming is a successor. There are issues such as a shortage of workers and an increase in abandoned farmland.

Ninomiya says he wants people to enjoy citrus like a subculture by learning about the characteristics of the taste that are not just "delicious" and the background of cultivation and distribution. is thinking

to qualify?

In order to qualify as a citrus sommelier, you must first apply to the NPO Citrus Sommelier Ehime.

This is the 5th exam, and the cost is not cheap at 25,000 yen including the tuition fee, but within a few days from the start of recruitment, the quota of 25 people including me was filled.

In order to take the exam, it is necessary to take a total of 10 hours of lectures over two days.

This time, it was held at a venue in Matsuyama city.

Half of the 25 participants were from outside the prefecture.

Why did you all aim to become a citrus sommelier?

University student in Tokyo:

"I'm a member of the university's mikan lovers' club, and I'm also involved in sales activities.

Woman from Ikata Town:

“I was originally from Nagoya, but I moved to Ehime because I wanted to become a citrus farmer.

The textbook used in the course is called the Citrus Textbook.

Created by NPO staff for a year and a half, the 82-page booklet covers a wide range of knowledge, from "the history of citrus fruits" to "how to distinguish delicious citrus fruits."

what are you studying

Through the course, you will acquire the three skills of "connoisseur," "taste," and "expression."

“Connoisseur” is the ability to distinguish delicious citrus fruits from their appearance without eating them.

There are various points to pay attention to, such as the coloring, the condition of the skin, and the way the stem is attached.

As an example, let's focus on the husk part.

Let's take another look at the oranges we introduced at the beginning.

The stem is a pathway for water and nutrients, but citrus fruits do not require much water and nutrients in the first place.

It is said that those with thin stems that do not allow moisture and nutrients to pass through are more delicious with a firmer taste.

Comparing the two mandarin oranges, the left one is thinner.

So, the answer to the question at the beginning is "the mandarin orange on the left side is sweet".

"Taste" develops the ability to actually eat and judge the taste.

Not only the sweetness and sourness of the fruit, but also 10 items such as "umami" and "length of taste" express the taste.

What is particularly important as a sommelier is the "expression" that conveys the appeal of citrus fruits to people.

While incorporating impressions when eating and episodes related to the citrus, we will verbalize the appeal.

For example, it looks like this.

Reporter

Teshigahara

: “Sweetness comes first, followed by sourness, but it fades away quickly. The taste is not overbearing.

” The feeling that's always in your mouth

5 hours exam

Two weeks after taking the course, it's time to take the exam.

I read textbooks while traveling for coverage, ate mandarin oranges every day, and studied for exams for the first time in a while.

The exam is divided into a written exam and a practical exam.

In the written test, the content written in the textbook and the knowledge learned in the course are presented in multiple-choice and descriptive formats.

There were many descriptive questions, and it took me to the limit of the time limit.

Are you wondering what kind of problems you might encounter?

This time, with Mr. Ninomiya's permission, I would like to share an example of this.

1 “What is the combination of Kanpei varieties?”

2 “Where is the birthplace of Wenzhou mandarin oranges

?”

Do you know the answer?

the correct answer is

1 "Nishinoka x Ponkan"

2 "Kagoshima Prefecture"

3 "Looking at the color and texture of the fruit skin, the direction of the calyx and the thickness of the stem, as well as the tightness and weight of the top of the fruit."

In addition, in the practical skill test, you will practice the "connoisseur", "taste", and "expression" that you learned in the course.

In a limited amount of time, we make judgments while looking at, touching, and eating fruits, and convey their characteristics in words.

During the exam, I used my five senses to the fullest and was exhausted.

I will share my results at the end of the article.

Citrus sommelier active all over Japan

Since the establishment of the sommelier qualification system two years ago, the exam has been held five times so far, and 75 sommeliers have been born both inside and outside the prefecture.

What are the benefits of being a certified sommelier?

Hazuki Umemoto, who works at a direct marketing market in Matsuyama City, passed the exam two years ago and became a citrus sommelier.

Hazuki Umemoto:

“I have gained a lot of knowledge about how to choose citrus fruits.

Mr. Umemoto is also in charge of developing original juices using non-standard citrus fruits, and his knowledge as a sommelier was also used here.

Mr. Hazuki Umemoto

“The unshu mandarin orange juice I made last year was a little sour, so this year I made it with mandarin oranges that were harvested late on purpose. I would like to eat new varieties and become a citrus doctor."

The results of the reporter's test are...

By the way, how was my test result?

About a month and a half after taking the exam.

The results of your careful scoring at the time when the farmers were the busiest in the orange harvest have finally arrived.

When I opened the envelope with my heart pounding...

Passed!

!

!

Yay!

!

!

In the pass/fail notification, the scores for both the academic and practical exams were also written.

Out of 100 points for each, I scored 69.5 points for the paper test and 82.8 points for the practical test, for a total of 152.3 points.

The borderline for passing is 135 points.

In addition, there are evaluations for each item in the practical exam.

Connoisseur scored 4 out of 5, taste scored 3.75 out of 5, and expression scored 5.5 out of 6.

In the final part of the general review, it is written, "I have left excellent results in practical skills, and in particular, I can feel the definite knowledge and love of citrus fruits everywhere in my expressions. I was.

It's a nice comment, but I regret that my score in the written exam was low, and I would like to continue studying.

Thoughts of people involved in “citrus culture”

In the course aimed at becoming a sommelier, I met various types of citrus lovers, such as those who enthusiastically talk about cultivars, and those who talk about the charm of citrus fruits with rich expressions like poets, and there are enthusiastic citrus fans all over the country. I was surprised.

If you become a citrus sommelier, you will be able to participate in exchange meetings with other sommeliers, study sessions, and training at the garden. I think it's one of the attractions.

Citrus farmers in Ehime are facing challenges such as a shortage of farmers.

Mr. Ninomiya said, “I want to make citrus fruits a part of culture,” but I think that increasing the number of core fans and spreading the appeal of citrus fruits will help improve the image of agriculture.

As a citrus sommelier, I would like to convey the charm of citrus that Ehime is proud of.

Matsuyama Broadcasting Station Yawatahama Branch Reporter

Yoshino Teshigahara Joined the station

in 2019

Recently, I've been buying different oranges, comparing them, tasting them, and doing "citrus research

".