Summer in Japan: Ramune (ラムネ)

Summer in Japan: Ramune (ラムネ)

Ramune has become a symbol of summer in Japan. You will see it for sale during the muggy, hot days where the humidity and temperatures are soaring and people are looking for something to cool them down.
Anywhere from floating in tubs of ice-water at temples, little stalls and stores near shrines, lined up on tables at festivals and in refrigerators in shopping arcades, this iconic drink is the Japanese version of Lemonade, though the taste is a little bit different.

The history

Ramune was originally brought to Kobe by Alexander Cameron Sim, a Scottish pharmacist who moved to the city in 1870. It was originally called Marble Soda (Mabu Sodaマブソダ) because of the marbles in the bottle, however its present name comes from the katakana for “Lemonade”. While the drink was originally marketed to Kobe’s foreign residents, it became widely popular after being advertised as a supposed preventative for cholera. Riiight…

The bottle

The bottle design of Ramune is probably one of the most distinctive features of the drink and it is called a “Codd-neck” bottle after Hiram Codd. The British engineer designed the glass bottles that sealed with a marble held in place by the carbonation pressure in the drink. And it’s highly entertaining watching people trying to open them for the first time.

Where to get it

Ramune is pretty popular overseas and you can pick it up at most good Asian or international grocery stores. In Japan, during summer, you can find it pretty much everywhere: festivals, shrines, supermarkets, and stalls. However, out of season, it’s a little more difficult to find.