Ramune
{{Short description|Japanese bubbly drink}}
{{About-distinguish|the carbonated soft drink|Lamune|Ramunė}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2021}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox Beverage
|name = {{Transliteration|ja|Ramune}}
|image = File:Ramune-lemonade,japan.JPG
|type = Soft drink
|abv =
|proof =
|manufacturer = Various
|distributor = Nishimoto Trading Co., Ltd., Sangaria U.S.A., Inc.
|origin = Japan
|introduced = 1884
|color = Clear
|flavor = {{plainlist |
- Original (lemon-lime)
- Blueberry
- Melon
- Lychee
- Orange
- Peach
- Pineapple
- Strawberry
- Matcha
- Grape
- Yuzu
- Cola
- Cherry
- Raspberry
- Bubble Gum
}}
|variants =
|related =
}}
{{Nihongo||{{linktext|ラムネ}}|Ramune}} ({{IPA|ja|ɾamɯne}}) is a carbonated soft drink served in a Codd-neck bottle.{{cite web | title = Pop culture | work = Mint | url = http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/ltG28LhAkLveUaltMmMasL/Pop-culture.html | date = 2 July 2010 | author = Anuja & Krish Raghav | access-date = 2014-08-17 | archive-date = 2017-09-13 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170913231906/http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/ltG28LhAkLveUaltMmMasL/Pop-culture.html | url-status = live }}{{cite web | title = Sipped for centuries | work = The Hindu | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/article2093715.ece | date = 10 June 2011 | access-date = 2014-08-17 | archive-date = 2011-06-12 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110612220046/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/article2093715.ece | url-status = live }} It was introduced in 1884 in Kobe as a carbonated lemonade by the Scottish pharmacist Alexander Cameron Sim.{{Cite web |title= The History of Ramune, Japan's National Soda |url= https://kotaku.com/the-history-of-ramune-japans-national-soda-1843559594 |website= Kotaku |date= 20 May 2020 |language= en-us |access-date= 2020-05-20 |archive-date= 2023-07-21 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230721220548/https://kotaku.com/the-history-of-ramune-japans-national-soda-1843559594 |url-status= live }} The name {{Transliteration|ja|ramune}} is derived from the English word lemonade.{{Cite web |last=Greve |first=Gabi |date=2008-06-18 |title=Ramune (lemonade) |url=https://washokufood.blogspot.com/2009/07/ramune-lemonade.html |access-date=2018-05-17 |website=Washoku}}{{Cite news |title=The Origin of Ramune |url=http://jpninfo.com/15978 |access-date=2018-05-17 |work=Japan Info |language=en-US |archive-date=2015-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802005443/http://jpninfo.com/15978 |url-status=live }}
History
In 1884, Alexander Cameron Sim introduced a lemonade carbonated beverage to the Kobe foreign settlement. The drink soon became popular with Japanese people after it was advertised in the Tokyo Mainichi Newspaper.
{{Transliteration|ja|Ramune}} is one of the modern symbols of summer in Japan and is widely consumed during festival days.{{Cite news |date=2024-07-11 |title=Ramune: A Japanese traditional summer soft drink is making waves worldwide |url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240711/p2a/00m/0li/005000c |access-date=2025-03-22 |work=Mainichi Daily News |language=en}} As {{Transliteration|ja|ramune}} is popular among children, there have been package design collaborations with popular Japanese franchises such as Hello Kitty.{{Cite web |last=Paranteau |first=Koko |date=2024-11-12 |title=15 Hello Kitty Food Collabs, Ranked |url=https://www.tastingtable.com/1708653/hello-kitty-food-collabs-ranked/ |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=Tasting Table |language=en-US}}
The original {{Transliteration|ja|ramune}} flavor is effectively identical to the modern Japanese use of the word "cider" (a lemon-lime soft drink), making the distinguishing characteristic of {{Transliteration|ja|ramune}} its Codd-neck bottle. Any soft drink in a Codd-neck bottle is generally regarded as {{Transliteration|ja|ramune}}, while ciders and soft drinks in any other container are generally not called {{Transliteration|ja|ramune}}. It is not a brand name and it is produced by several companies. Like tofu, its manufacture in Japan is restricted to small-to-medium-sized businesses.{{Cite web |title=豆腐とラムネ、意外な共通点 「懐かしの味」守る４６年前制定の法律【けいざい百景】：時事ドットコム |url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/v8?id=202303keizaihyaku094 |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=時事ドットコム |language=ja}}
There are many flavors of {{Transliteration|ja|ramune}}, including peach, cola, melon, and bubble gum.{{cite web |date=July 2, 2018 |title=へんてこな味がいっぱい！？日本一のラムネ会社に潜入 |url=https://services.osakagas.co.jp/portalc/contents-2/pc/tantei/1271211_38851.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305143013/https://services.osakagas.co.jp/portalc/contents-2/pc/tantei/1271211_38851.html |archive-date=March 5, 2021 |access-date=March 25, 2021 |language=ja}}
See also
{{Portal|Japan|Drink}}