If you find a bottle of Japanese Ramune Soda then you may be forgiven for wishing it came with some instructions on how to open it.
Arguably one of Japan’s most recognizable and beloved soft drinks is their Ramune Soda.
When heading to Japan, you should prepare yourself for finding one of their bottles as each one contains a refreshingly bubbly and tasty concoction. That is if you can work out how to open it first.
In this article, we will look at the history of the Ramune Soda bottle and how to open one.
The Ramune Soda Bottle
A bottle of Ramune Soda can easily be found in a Japanese grocery store yet can be difficult to find outside the country.
Though it can be found alongside more readily available Western sodas like Coca-Cola or Pepsi, Ramune Soda should not be seen as just another carbonated drink as it is so much more.
For one, there are several flavor variations such as orange, melon, and lemon-lime. That’s just to mention three as they can come in even more bizarre flavors such as chocolate, chili, and even octopus.
The Ramune Soda bottle itself is one of the remarkable features to characterize the drink. Though the likes of Coca-Cola and Pepsi can be found in cans or screw-top plastic bottles, Ramune Soda also comes in a ‘Codd-neck bottle’.
As if to prove how well-thought the soda is, the bottle it comes in is made of thick glass with a tiny round glass marble to seal it. Do not be alarmed, the marble is kept secure by the carbonated contents and a plastic top.
How To Open A Bottle Of Ramune Soda
The Codd-neck bottle was first designed and then patented by Hiram Codd, a soft drink creator in London. Being constructed from thick glass helps the bottles withstand the pressure of the carbonated creation.
It is not the thick glass that really characterizes the bottles but the separate chamber with a small glass marble in the neck.
Place The Bottle Carefully
Instead of simply twisting off a cap, you have to deal with the glass marble though this is easily done. First, put the thick glass bottle on a flat and stable surface like a counter so it does not slip from your hands.
Take off the plastic wrapping that surrounds the cap of the thick glass bottle and throw it in the trash.
Next is the plastic piece that comes on the top of the bottle which separates into two pieces and you can employ your thumb to separate the center part from the outer ring then throw that ring into the trash.
Apply The Plunger
The round and flat-sided piece should be facing up and the two parts may be differently colored as the plunger can be pink whereas the cap can be blue or green.
With the center part or plunger, which is round and flat-sided, separated you can place it on top of the glass marble. Use one hand to grip the thick glass bottle and the other hand should have its heel on the plunger.
With a firm and decisive application of pressure with the heel of your hand, push downward and forcefully on that plunger so the glass marble drops straight into the liquid with a reassuring clink sound.
Drink And Enjoy
Keep holding the plunger on the thick glass bottle’s opening for around five seconds so that the contents have settled. Now you can throw away the plunger and enjoy the soda.
When drinking from the thick glass bottle, hold it so that those indentations in the bottle’s neck effectively catch the glass marble as they are facing down.
If the glass marble is not caught then the flow of soda may be halted but this is not something you want to try too often as the stopper is not completely leak-proof.
Play With The Marble
The glass marble is not just for show as you can play around with it too. That’s one of the intentions as this intrinsically Japanese treat is there to be enjoyed as well as provide refreshment.
There is also a trick to drinking and a game where you can work out the ideal rhythm for drinking the soda based on where the glass marble is sitting.
Final Thoughts
With a glass marble in every thick glass bottle, drinking a Ramune Soda should be quite an experience for the first time.
Though it takes a little more effort to work out how to get to the soda, the delicious and refreshing taste of Ramune Soda should make it worth it.
You can even hold the thick glass bottle over your head before you fully open it and nothing should come out. Do not push too hard when moving the glass marble though as you could slip and the thick glass bottle would shatter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The History Of Ramune Soda?
Ramune drinks were initially developed in Japan by the Scottish pharmacist, Alexander Cameron Sim. He first made himself known in the city of Kobe around 1884 and it is in this foreign settlement that the soda was initially sold.
The region was designated by the Japanese government as a location where foreign individuals, such as Sim, could work as well as live with the local Japanese population.
In Kobe, Sim worked as a pharmacist and then began his own company known as A.C. Sim Shōkai.
The company initially imported medicine and certain medical supplies but that all changed when Sim brought in his carbonated creation which was developed to treat cholera.
The disease was prevalent in the area at the time and Ramune Soda then became popular for its taste.
Which Flavors Does Ramune Soda Come In?
Initially, Ramune Soda was simply based on the lychee fruit though nowadays you can find it in many flavors.
The most popular flavors tend to be fruit-based and include lemon-lime, melon, lychee, orange, peach, blueberry, strawberry, grape, yuzu, and pineapple.
This being a Japanese creation, you can find more extravagant and bizarre flavors such as chocolate, curry, chili oil, corn potage, octopus, kimchi, curry, teriyaki, and even wasabi.
If you enjoyed this post, you might enjoy our article on ‘How To Make Sake Bombs‘.
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!
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