TokyoTreat Team Reviews: Sakura Ramune

Cherry blossom season is one of the most important seasons in Japan! Every year we see Japan become a fantastic pink wonderland once springtime hits. Pink cherry blossom blooms bring visitors from all over the world to enjoy the storied sakura season.

The only thing better than the breathtaking early to mid April full bloom scenery are all the tasty sakura snacks that line shelves with their pastel pink packaging at this time of year. Japanese food revolves around the seasons, and sakura flavors and motifs are the pinnacle of traditional Japanese spring sweets.

From sakura mochi to sakura infused tea – sakura is one of Japan’s favorite springtime flavors, and everyone tries to get their hands on them at once, because they disappear almost as quickly as they seem to appear! And if you want to try some sakura sweets yourself, look no further than Japanese candy box TokyoTreat in early spring! 

I was able to score a bottle of the Sakura Ramune that was a part of TokyoTreat's April box. Here I'll share my thoughts and tell you what I have to say about the Japan-only limited-edition pink soda.

The Ramune Bottle – 10000/10

Image via shutterstock.com

Classic. Elegant. Timeless. 

The ramune bottle by itself is one of the most iconic soda bottles ever! First introduced to Japan in 1884, codd neck shaped bottles (their technical name) are famous for their interesting and unique design, using a glass marble as a stopper so that the flow of the soda outward is constrained. This makes for a smoother sipping experience, and ensures that you enjoy it bit by bit instead of gulping it down in one swoop!

Japanese ramune soda remains as one of the only soft drinks in the world to still use this storied design, the other being a soda that's native to India called Banta. 

The design requires the person enjoying the Japanese soda to dislodge the marble stopper before drinking, making the ramune experience a must try adventure that's unique to Japan. In particular for any visitors to the country, you definitely won't want to miss this chance!

The bottle itself is made of a very sturdy and heavy glass, giving the ramune bottle a sense of grandeur which, in turn, makes drinking this sakura flavored ramune an event right from the very beginning, as this bottle type itself used to be very common in the earlier half of the 20th century before it made way for plastic bottles that are now commonplace.

I was very impressed with this fun Japanese ramune bottle. The label has a refreshing cherry blossom design giving it a seasonal and Japan exclusive feeling. And nothing is more satisfying than the “clink” when the marble hits the bottle.

If you want more information about how to properly open a bottle of ramune, check out TokyoTreat’s How to Open Ramune: The Ultimate Guide.

Japan has no shortage of delicious and exciting seasonal drinks, sweets, and snacks! Don't miss a beat, have a TokyoTreat box delivered from Japan today!

The Appearance – Pink/10

How can I describe the appearance of this Sakura Ramune? In one word – Pink. The pink color of this Japan exclusive soda cannot be denied. And I’m absolutely here for it.

Every year, the cherry blossoms in Japan are a national event. Cherry blossom forecasts even exist to help people predict exactly when the sakura will be in their beautiful full bloom in each region of the country. There are even parties and cherry blossom festivals to celebrate Japan turning pink.

This pink color certainly reflects the vibrancy of the season – and the bubbles add a burst of extra fun! And even if you’re not in Japan right now, luckily it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t experience it wherever you are. 

Wanna see cherry blossoms in Tokyo for yourself? Check out this beautiful video from TokyoPro below.

The Flavor – 7/10

The first thing you’ll notice when opening the bottle is the faint yet certainly sweet aroma of cherry blossom – thanks to the cherry blossom extract used in this Japanese soda. It’s got to be one of the best ways to transport yourself to springtime in Tokyo. 

And for the actual flavor of this Japanese 'lemonade', it definitely has the distinct flavor of sakura. It’s sweet, light and elegant. It’s actually a little more mild than I was initially expecting. But the refreshing flavor is fitting for a renewing and bright spring day underneath the cherry blossoms.

Ramune has a long history of interesting flavors. Having so much choice makes picking a favorite ramune flavor all the more difficult. But the refreshing sakura flavor is a strong contender – right above another stunner, melon ramune.

Ever wondered if you were a bottle of Japanese ramune what flavor you would be? Why not take our What Flavor of Ramune Are You quiz? Maybe you’ll get Sakura Ramune!

Image via shutterstock.com

Our Rating – Must Try!

This year, getting out and about, even to the Tokyo sakura hotspots was pretty tricky. But bringing Sakura Ramune into our snacking schedule was a welcome break and gave us the extra charge we needed.

Filling my room with the aroma of sakura brought back happy spring memories, and the light flavor of the Japanese soda was perfect for bringing in some belated spring vibes. Add in the fun of opening up the unique ramune bottle itself and you’ll be in for an unmissable Japanese ramune experience!

Cherry blossom season is symbolic in Japan, as it signals a fresh beginning for everyone. And we are waiting with great anticipation for next year's cherry blossom season already! 

And while sakura season has passed – unless you’re reading this in late-march – mid-april (in which case, Happy Cherry Blossom Season!) Japan has no shortage of other delicious and exciting seasonal sweets and snacks that you won't want to miss!

Be sure to let us know in the comments what kind of flavors of ramune that you love or that you'd love to try for yourself!