25th April – 卯月
There are heaps unique things sold in Japan, one of the typical ones is drinks.
Famous drink brand Coca Cola started to sell transparent cola ‘Coca Cola CLEAR’ in 2018, in Japan. The taste is similar to the original black colored cola, however the new looks have attracted Japanese.
Also from Coca Cola company, Coca Cola sell alcohol drink only in Japan called ‘檸檬堂＝Lemon Dou’. The base flavor is Lemon sour cocktail, and one have salty taste, the other includes honey and another is more lemon juice in it.
Starbucks in Japan have limited flavor as well. The most famous one is Sakura flavor, only sold in the Spring time. Also have cherry blossom related goods during this season, thus many Starbucks fans like to collect those goods.
Even some shops of the Starbucks in Japan have its special menu only available in specific shops. One of the Omote Sando shop, Tokyo has Frozen Apple tea, Chirtose Airport in Hokkaido sells White Chocolate & Expresso Flappechino etc.
Have you heard the drink called メロンソーダ (Melon Soda)?
Melon soda – Green colored carbonated drinks that have been drunk by Japanese from long time ago, is still children’s favorite. Even this drink does not have actual Melon juice in it, the green color reminds people of melon. Putting vanilla ice cream on the top (メロンクリームソーダ) is the best combination.
Another transparent drink, called ヨーグリーナ (Yo-guri-na), Yogurt flavored water from Santory. This company sell other flavored water such as orange and plum, also the other company sells flavored water like grape, pear and peach. All those does not have color just like water, so it is very surprising when you drink them for the first time. You can find them easily in the convenient store.
Japanese created ‘food’ into drinks.
In the vending machine, sometimes they have お汁粉 (Oshiruko), sweet red bean soup and コーンポタージュ (Corn potage) in a can. Even there used to be spicy tomato curry drink sold in Japan as well (It was limited version and already sold out). According to the people who tried this curry drink, it was very spicy did not have ingredients.
Not only those ones, there are various drinks which actual ‘food’ being in the drinks – jelly in the juice, Aloe vella juice, fruits (keeping its shape) in the juice etc.
It seems that Japanese like to try unique drinks that not many people have thought about. That is why many out-of-box items have created.
If you have a chance to visit Japan, it would be interesting to try weird drinks!
Little Japan Dictionary 