What are the best Japanese Fanta Flavors?
As you may know, Japan is a country that goes beyond and extra when it comes to creating flavors for various products. Did you know that weird flavors of Kit Kat like pizza-oven-bake and soy sauce flavor exist in Japan? This is the same for fizzy drinks like Fanta (well, drink flavors aren’t as extreme). In this article, we will be listing out some of the best Fanta flavors in Japan that you probably didn't know existed.
Fanta is one of the largest soft drink brands in the world, but it was actually manufactured late compared to other popular drinks. Coca-Cola‘s German branch developed Fanta during World War II due to the difficulty of exporting the Coca-Cola syrup. This inspired the head of the Coca-Cola branch in Germany to create a new product only using ingredients that could be found in Germany in 1940, and it was a success. While it was named Fanta in Germany, the current orange formula that we all know and love was created in Italy in 1955.
5 Best Japanese Fanta Flavors
We are all used to the usual orange, apple, and pineapple flavors of Fanta, but there are a few rare Fanta flavors that are popular in Japan because of their uniqueness. Grab a seat and be ready to learn about Fanta flavors that you probably didn't know about.
1. FANTA PREMIER GRAPE / PEACH / ORANGE / LEMON (MINUTE MAID)
Minute Maid is a beverage product line associated with soft drinks, orange juice and orange juice. Fanta Japan teamed up with Minute Maid to bring high-end versions of Fanta fruit flavors. Premium Fanta flavors are the deluxe version released in 2021. They are less carbonated and fruitier, there is a hint of fizziness but the taste is more complex and deep with some sediments. Premium Fanta drinks have a golden cap to indicate their exclusivity and the bottle is way cooler than the usual design. It looks amazingl but that may be because it is pricier than the regular versions.
Premier Grape has 13% real juice and puree to improve the taste and texture. You would have to invert it once without shaking it because there are fruit sediments at the bottom as well as a grape aroma. The grapes used to produce this Fanta are processed within 24 hours after being harvested.
Premier Lemon has only 11% real juice and it has that sour-sweet taste of lemon with the expected sediments. The color is also clear but the flavor packs a punch.
Premier Orange is definitely one of the coolest premier drinks because it contains 16% real orange juice. In fact, the manufacturing adds oranges in 3 ways; using large and small pulp as well as the juice from squeezed oranges. The color is slightly different from the usual Fanta Orange flavor and it has a beautiful texture when it is poured into a glass.
Premier Peach has 13% real juice and has the rich taste of white peach with its natural sweetness. It has a cloudy light yellow color and is very pleasant with a hint of fizziness.
2. FANTA SODA – MYSTERY BLUE
If you have ever heard of the WTF (what the Fanta?) campaign, then you should know that it all started with this mystery flavor that Fanta has kept secret from the public. Blue isn’t a normal color to associate with fruity fizzy drinks because it is difficult to connect it to a fruit and let’s be honest, it looks like dishwater liquid. There have been a lot of guesses on Twitter as to what fruit inspired this Fanta flavor, if you want to get in on the hunt, you can even scan the QR code to unlock some online clues. To keep it exclusive, it is only available in a few countries and although it was released in 2020, production is set to stop in 2023. There are a lot of wide theories, but you can buy the drink if you want to have a go at guessing this drink.
3. FANTA OKINAWA SHIKUWASA
Simply put, Okinawa shikuwasa are limes or citrus fruits primarily grown on the island of Okinawa, so even in Japan, it is rare. Shikuwasa literally means “to eat sourness” in Japanese. It is popular because its taste is different from regular limes. The Fanta flavor of this fruit is equally rare but thoroughly enjoyable. It is clear but has that tangy lemon flavor that is a bit sour but sweet. Okinawa shikuwasa Fanta flavor is available in plastic bottles and metal cans.
4. FANTA SODA YOGURT RUSH
Have you ever imagined Fanta having a creamy yogurt flavor with a hint of fizziness? Well, no need to imagine anymore, it is available in Japan! What is interesting about this is that this Fanta yogurt soda incorporates a mix of two flavors; Lemon grapefruit yogurt rush, pineapple melon yogurt rush, peach, and white grape yogurt rush. Because of the creaminess and white cloudy color, the carbonation is very weak. It is not sour like yogurt but you can feel the taste of the flavor strongly. It is such a unique version of Fanta that cannot be found everywhere but it definitely deserves all of the hype.
5. FANTA – MELON SODA
Did you know that in Japan, samurais offered melons to their leader as a sign of appreciation and loyalty? Melons in Japan are a symbol of luxury which is why melon fruits are regarded highly and are very popular (especially with kids) in Japan. It has a bright neon green color and is a carbonated, sweeter version of the melon fruit. Fanta Melon Soda flavor was introduced in 1988 and other sub-varieties like melon cream, melon and orange, sunny melon, and fruity melon flavors have also been produced. It is available in vending machines and convenience stores all over Japan.
What is The Most Popular Fanta Flavor?
While it is a bit cliché because it is one of the first types of Fanta flavors to be manufactured, the most popular Fanta flavor is the original orange flavor.
Checkout our Japanese Snack Box, where we include an original Japanese drink every month!
This article was originally written by our freelance writer Umm-Kulthum Abdulkareem, and edited by us.
