I have to say I'm a HUGE Ramune fan, ever since I saw it in a store a while back. I will say about 80% of the purchase factor is just around the appeal of the bottle itself. This is distributed via Sangaria over here in the states, with a limited amount of flavors. The bottles have a little marble in them, that is pressed in place by the carbonation. See the video below, if you're concerned on how to open... it is intimidating for first time drinkers.
With all that said, on to the actual review, the soda for some people will not taste/look/market like anything in production over here. However, I have to agree, since there are no tastes like this out on normal food/beverage shelves. The marble glass bottle design is both a source of frustration and fascination. I will say, the first time I did get it open, it's extremely rewarding and just puts a smile on your face. Another thing as well, you'll notice how much SMALLER this is than your traditional can/bottle of soda. This is the PERFECT example of something that is PURPOSE-BUILT. The marble has a unique charm factor to it, however it serves a purpose, to seal the drink. The same can be said about the indentations, they hold the marble from plugging the hole... again purpose-built.
Unique Pink Bottle
As far as how this actually tastes, I really like the strawberry flavor, I also really like the original flavor and melon flavors. There is a really strong strawberry flavor in this drink, however I like the fact that it's not overly carbonated. If you find any flavor of this, you'll notice it has no 'bite' like a coca cola or something like that does. The soda really doesn't suffer from any weird after-tastes, which is REALLY good of course. I will mention that once you get to the bottom, you'll want every last drop of it, but that can be increasingly difficult due to the marble. It's such a light and fruity flavor, you kind of wish it would have been bigger.
Close up of the marble
I can't really say enough about how fun it is to just enjoy one of these, regardless of flavor. However, it's a rare thing to find something that tastes and looks presentable as well. Add in a little bit of fun ... and you've got yourself a Ramune drink. Honestly, I was a bit worried since the bottle was so small, but as I've found so far in my reviews, the portion control appears to be something that these Asian companies do right. Don't get me wrong, there are bulk packs of pretty much any staple food, but you'll notice I'll most likely steer clear of those.
Nutritional Facts... 100 Calories, YAY!
In conclusion, if you CAN find these drinks, don't pass them up. I do have to admit, they are a bit on the pricey side, but you are certainly paying for a bit of the novelty. I think I have payed $1.29-$1.49 for these a piece, no doubt a non-bargain, given the small volume of soda. However, if you're looking for a 'low risk' adventure into different foods, this would certainly be something I'd recommend. Overall, I give this a 9.5 out of 10, due to the fun factor, taste and awesome bottle. However the reason it's not a perfect 10 is because of cost and scarcity of this item at all of the stores I've been in.
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