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Have you ever seen a bright green drink topped with vanilla ice cream in a café window? Among all the colorful Japanese sodas on display, one always stands out: the melon soda.
This iconic Japanese drink has a history dating back to the Taisho Era, with roots even in Meiji times. Sweet, fizzy, and vibrant, it’s more than just a treat; it’s a taste of nostalgia.
Even as traditional cafés become rarer, melon soda continues to be a cultural staple. Whether enjoyed in a café or made at home, it’s a drink that never fails to delight.
Discover what makes melon soda special, explore the top brands in Japan, and maybe even try making it yourself!
What is Melon Soda?
Melon soda is a bright green, fizzy drink with a sweet, candy-like flavor. Its popularity skyrocketed in the 1970s within kissaten culture, where it was seen as a nostalgic treat, a “childhood luxury” often linked to family outings.
Three main brands are still famous today:
- Nakamura Shoten’s Captain Syrup – deep emerald green, common in cafés and bars.
- Suntory’s Pop Melon – pale neon green, found in restaurants and vending machines.
- Media-ya’s My Syrup – bright grassy green, popular for home use and shaved ice.
Recently, Gen Z has revived interest in melon soda floats, sharing them online.
Why Is Melon Soda Green?
Melon soda’s bright green color comes from food dyes, usually Yellow No. 4 and Blue No. 1, while its sweet, candy-like flavor comes from Ethyl Butyrate. It’s more like a retro candy than a real melon.
Some modern brands, like MUJI, use natural ingredients such as safflower and gardenia. This gives the drink a softer, calmer green instead of the classic neon glow.
What Does Melon Soda Taste Like?
Traditional kissaten melon soda is thick and silky, with a rich, candy-like sweetness and a hint of floral flavor. Its texture is sturdy enough to hold a scoop of ice cream on top.
Family-restaurant versions are lighter but fizzy, with a sharper bite. Some cafés mix in club soda for a gentler sparkle.
Bottled melon sodas are thinner and crisper, with brighter acidity. Some can still support an ice cream float, while others are better enjoyed on their own.
What is a Melon Cream Soda?
In Japan, a “cream soda” usually means a melon soda float. It’s bright green soda topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. When the ice cream meets the fizzy soda, it creates a tall, green foam around the scoop. As it melts, the drink turns pastel and creamy, giving it a softer, richer flavor.
In a nutshell, melon cream soda is a float (soda + ice cream), while melon soda is only the soda, without ice cream.
Popular Japanese Melon Soda Brands
Suntory Pop
Suntory Pop debuted in 1977 and is still the definitive vending machine standard for Japanese melon soda. Translucent neon green in color, it has a candy-like muskmelon flavor that’s sharp and refreshing on the tongue.
Tomomasu
Tomomasu has a sweet and mellow, somewhat nostalgic melon flavor. The strong, fizzy kick and crispness is quite refreshing when chilled. It is also good for making ice-cream floats.
Sangria Marufuwa
Sangria Marufuwa is a melon cream soda which uses a condensed skim milk powder to create a fine-bubbled head of ‘cream’ foam. It’s noticeably less fizzy than a regular soda.
Asahi Mitsuya
Mitsuya uses a carbonation process that highlights its natural fruitiness rather than overwhelming it. A small percentage of real melon purée and extract lends musky and floral notes. The aftertaste is clean and crisp with a naturally fresh sweetness.
Cheerio
Cheerio is a classic deep, translucent emerald green. It is heavily carbonated with a champagne-like crispness. The taste sensation is fairly sharp with a vintage soda sugariness and distinct creaminess.
How to Make Melon Soda at Home
Classic Melon Soda Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 oz (60ml) Captain Melon Syrup
- 6 oz (180ml) strongly carbonated club soda
- Large ice cubes.
- 1 cherry for garnish
Pour the syrup first, then add ice, tilt the glass, and pour the soda water slowly down the side. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Melon Soda with Ramune Base Recipe
Ramune is an iconic Japanese soda with a mild lemon-lime flavor sealed in a unique Codd-neck glass bottle. You can enjoy it as a fizzy soda pop or as a mix for other drinks.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz (45ml) of Meidi-ya "My Syrup" (Melon flavor)
- 1 bottle of Original (Lemon-Lime) Ramune soda.
Add the syrup, then crushed ice to the glass rim. 10 seconds after opening, pour the Ramune slowly down the tilted edge. With a long bar spoon, lift the contents lightly a couple of times.
What’s your favorite melon soda? Share your go-to brand, café, or homemade twist! Do you prefer it as a creamy float, a fizzy solo soda, or even with a Ramune twist? We’d love to hear how you enjoy this iconic Japanese soda!
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