View source for Ramune

{{Short description|Japanese bubbly drink}}
{{About-distinguish|the carbonated soft drink|Lamune|Ramunė}}
{{for|the candy|Ramune candy}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2021}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox Beverage
|name         = {{Transliteration|ja|Ramune}}
|image        = [[File:Ramune-lemonade,japan.JPG|250px|A lemonade {{Transliteration|ja|ramune}} bottle]]
|type         = [[Soft drink]]
|abv          =
|proof        =
|manufacturer = Various
|distributor  = [[Nishimoto Trading Co., Ltd.]], [[Sangaria (soft drink)|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
*Yogurt
*Bubble Gum
}}
|variants     =
|related      =
}}
{{Nihongo||{{linktext|ラムネ}}|'''Ramune'''}} ({{IPA|ja|ɾamɯne}}) is a [[carbonated water|carbonated]] [[soft drink#Carbonated drinks|soft drink]] served in a [[Codd-neck bottle]].<ref name="mint">{{cite web | title = Pop culture | work = [[Mint (newspaper)|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 }}</ref><ref name="hindu11">{{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 = dead }}</ref> It was introduced in 1884 in [[Kobe]] as a carbonated lemonade by the Scottish pharmacist [[Alexander Cameron Sim]].<ref>{{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 }}</ref> The name {{Transliteration|ja|ramune}} is derived from the English word ''[[lemonade]]''.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref>

==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 [[Mainichi Shimbun|Tokyo Mainichi Newspaper]].

{{Transliteration|ja|Ramune}} is one of the modern symbols of [[summer]] in Japan and is widely consumed during [[Japanese festivals|festival]] days.<ref>{{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}}</ref> As {{Transliteration|ja|ramune}} is popular among children, there have been package design collaborations with popular Japanese franchises such as [[Hello Kitty]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

The original {{Transliteration|ja|ramune}} flavor is effectively identical to the modern Japanese use of the word "cider" {{Nihongo||{{linktext|サイダー}}|'''Saida'''}} (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 (the 1977 {{ill|Act on Adjustment of Business Activities of Large Enterprises to Ensure Business Opportunities for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises|ja|中小企業の事業活動の機会の確保のための大企業者の事業活動の調整に関する法律}}).<ref>{{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}}</ref>

There are many flavors of {{Transliteration|ja|ramune}}, including peach, cola, melon, and bubble gum.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Japan|Drink}}
* [[Banta]]
* [[Sangaria (company)|Sangaria]]
* [[List of soft drinks by country]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{Citrus sodas}}
{{Japanese food and drink}}

[[Category:Japanese drink brands]]
[[Category:Lemon-lime sodas]]
[[Category:Soft drinks]]
[[Category:Scottish inventions]]
[[Category:1884 introductions]]