If you are curious to try the Japanese favorite drink, Ramune, then you have come to the right place. Whilst we can’t offer you a bottle, we can tell you what Ramune tastes like and how it came about.
The word ramune is translated to English as ‘lemonade’. This can give you an idea of the fizziness and refreshing feel of taking a sip.
The name also refers to a couple of other things too, when people mention Ramune – one being that it is a carbonated beverage, and the other is the famous bottle design that all Japanese people will immediately know is Ramune once they see it.
Not only is there a drink, but there are candies too which taste similar to that of a Ramune drink. They even have a similar fizziness too.
With all this in mind, let’s take a look at the Ramune drink to find out about its flavors, and how it came to be.
Whilst lemonade was the only go-to back in the 19th century, it has changed quite a bit since then.
The flavor titled ‘original’ should be lemonade, but it actually tastes a little like bubblegum with a citrus undertone. Some of the flavors that are available today are strawberry, cantaloupe, yuzu, kiwi, watermelon, orange, and many more.
However, it is worth noting that Ramune is a sweet tasting drink, highly likely to the amount of glucose it includes.
Where Did The Ramune Drink Come From?
Surprisingly, Ramune was introduced to Japan by a British-born pharmacist who was living in the area of Kobe in Japan at the latter end of the 19th century.
It was introduced as a way to help cure cholera which is to do with a stomach illness causing diarrhea.
In the west, having a carbonated drink for illnesses was quite popular during this century, so whilst it sounds strange now, it really wasn’t then.
It originally had a lemon and lime flavor, and unlike American lemonade, it was fizzy which was the norm in Europe. The name itself came about because it is a Japanese way of saying ‘lemonade’.
Today, Ramune is seen as a traditional carbonated Japanese drink that foreigners like to try, but it is also quite nostalgic for many Japanese people who grew up drinking it as a teenager.
Does Ramune Have A Marble In The Bottle?
One of the attractions to Ramune is the bottle itself. It is considered to be a traditional way of opening a carbonated bottle which hasn’t been changed since Ramune was created.
To get the bottle open, you have to push the marble into the neck of the bottle with the plastic plunger which is attached at the top. Originally this was glass.
Once this process is done, you then have to drink the Ramune slowly, otherwise you risk the marble finding its way back to the opening of the bottle.
Once a popular way to drink carbonated drinks, Ramune, along with another soda brand in Asia, Banta, only use this method of using a marble.
Why Do Some People Drink Ramune?
Whilst Ramune is incredibly delicious on a warm summer’s afternoon, some people swear that it helps with their hangover. This is likely due to the fact it is full of glucose which we can lack when we are dehydrated and feeling fragile.
However, there is no proof that it actually can help to remove any symptoms of a hangover. The best way to try and relieve symptoms is by drinking water. This way you can rehydrate without the extra sugar intake.
Other than that, and apart from its past of being a medical drink, Ramune is generally enjoyed as a casual drink due to its refreshing taste, and the fact it quenches your thirst on a hot day.
It isn’t however, still used as a drink for medical purposes!
What Other Areas Has The Flavor Of Ramune Been Used In Japan?
Whilst Ramune is a type of drink, it is also used as a flavoring in other food items. This suggests that Ramune flavored items use the ‘original’ flavor which has a bubblegum and citrus kind of taste to it.
Puchao for example has a Ramune flavored candy which plays on the fact it is refreshing and fizzy.
Another Ramune inspired candy favorite is the Morinaga Soda Candy which looks like the bottle, but includes fizzy candy.
If you want something that is chewy, then the Milk Chewy Candy by Aggretsuko is a great choice for a burst of Ramune flavor.
Also, another popular choice is Hi-Chew in Ramune flavor which is also a chewy candy. It also includes a center that becomes fizzy which gives you a feeling of the real beverage.
Aside from candy, Ramune has also been used as a McFlurry flavor in Japan’s McDonalds, as well as popsicles and many other delicious things to eat.
Final Thoughts
Ramune was once named as the ‘national soda’ of the whole of Japan, and it is easy to see why. With its distinctive bottle design and flavor, there is nothing else that compares.
Due to the fact it has stayed traditional with its marble opening, most people are curious to try a bottle of Ramune.
Even though it doesn’t have the same original flavor or lime and lemon, it has become a popular drink to stay refreshed throughout the warmer months.
So, the next time you’re vacationing in Japan, try a bottle of Ramune, or buy one right here.
Hi, I’m Jason Patrick, and for as long as I have been alive, I have been obsessed with Japanese culture. From the sights and sounds of Japan’s many cities to its culinary delights that have become famous worldwide, I simply cannot get enough of this wonderful nation!
I hope that, by exploring this website, you all will develop a much deeper appreciation for Japan, and that it may even influence you to pay it a visit yourself eventually! It is definitely a trip of a lifetime, and whether you experience it firsthand, or through my own website, I’m sure you will become just as passionate as I always have been!
