One of my favorite childhood drinks from Japan is Cream Soda, a cool, melon-flavored carbonated beverage topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. This sweet and refreshing Japanese ice cream float is a popular drink offered in kid‘s meal sets.
Do you have a drink that makes you feel nostalgic and reminds you of the carefree, innocent childhood days? For me, it’s Cream Soda (クリームソーダ). The cool, fresh sweet taste of the carbonated drink was the taste of happiness to a child’s mind.
My mom wasn’t a big fan of keeping soda in our fridge, so I was excited when the restaurants started to offer Cream Soda as part of the kid’s meal set. That neon green colored soda was so luscious and tempting to my eyes.
And when we were in Japan last summer, the same thing happened to our kids: they got hooked on this magical green world of happiness.
What is Cream Soda?
It’s possible that the cream soda you know is different from what I’ve shown in the picture above. Wikipedia shows all the international variations around the world and it was fun to see each country’s version.
In the United States, cream soda is often vanilla-flavored with either clear or colored (commonly light golden brown, but red, pink, orange and blue are also relatively common). At cafes, the drink is made with soda water, vanilla syrup, and cream or half and half.
In Japan, “cream soda” is a term used for an ice cream float made with Melon Soda (メロンソーダ) topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (except for Okinawa, which follows American style).
Make Japanese Cream Soda with Melon Soda
It might be a bit strange to you, but melon-favored soda is quite popular in Japan. It is the base of Japanese cream soda, which consists of mixing melon-flavored syrup and club soda. To be honest, melon syrup doesn’t taste anything like melon, but it tastes quite good. It is not healthy to drink all the time, but it’s a nice special treat! Besides melon soda, we also use melon syrup for shaved ice in Japan.
Some restaurants and cafes in Japan serve Melon Soda along with Cream Soda. You can also enjoy it from cans or bottles sold at vending machines and grocery stores.
I found the melon syrup at a local Japanese supermarket, but you can purchase one on Amazon. I apologize in advance to those of you who don’t have access to this melon syrup to create this delicious drink. The melon syrup is not made with natural ingredients so I can’t replicate this exact flavor. You can make a “healthier” melon syrup by mixing simple syrup and pureed melons (cantaloupe), but… I know, it’s just not quite the same.
For those of you who can purchase melon syrup in a Japanese supermarket, enjoy making Melon Soda or Cream Soda. And if/when you go to Japan, don’t forget to try Melon Soda and Cream Soda there!
Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
Japanese Cream Soda
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp melon syrup
- ice cubes
- ¾ cup club soda
- vanilla ice cream
- maraschino cherries (optional)
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Add ice cubes to a glass and add 3 Tbsp melon syrup.
- Add ¾ cup club soda.
- Mix well with a spoon.
- Top with vanilla ice cream.
- Garnish with maraschino cherries and enjoy!
Nutrition
Editor’s Note: The post was originally published on Sep 18, 2015. The post content has been updated in July 2017.
Hi Nami, great and simple recipe! Thank you.
Have you tried this syrup?: http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B005FUGZ40 Could it also be used for “Japanese Melon Soda” taste?
Hi Fujiri! Yes this is the right syrup. 🙂 It says you can use for cocktails, shaved ice etc. So it can be used for Melon Soda. 🙂
Can you use another type of syrup?? I have a friend who is allergic to melon..
Hi Kristine! I’m pretty positive that there is no actual “melon” in melon soda (besides the color is green). You might want to double check, but I think there is no or almost no melon extract…
Could Midori be used to make an alcoholic version?
Hi Tim! I think so – it’s similar to Midori Sour? It uses melon liqueur. 🙂
Oh I’d forgotten how much I used to like melon syrup. I never had cream soda but I used to use my Snoopy snow cone machine to make snow cones with melon syrup which was my favorite. When my mother wasn’t looking I’d squeeze some directly into my mouth. LOL (I was 8) I’m putting it on my Mitsuwa list and will try it as cream soda!
Hi Salena! I think one of my friends had snoopy snow cone machine too! 😀 I think you’ll enjoy Cream Soda or even Melon Soda very much. You made me laugh about squeezing the syrup into your mouth. I can imagine my 7 year old daughter do the same thing!!
I have always wanted to know how to make this. I went to Japan as a pre-teen and had melon soda every day (really!). I loved it so much. Thank you for the recipe; it was so simple to make. Both of my kids loved it.
Marukai didn’t have the melon flavour, so I made it with Hawaiian Blue. Just as good!
Will try it with melon next time.
Keep the great recipes coming!
Hi Barbara! Awesome!! I’m so happy to hear you liked the recipe! Yeah it works with other type of syrup too! It’s a nice treat with ice cream on top. 😀
Nice cook blog. How often do you make your post?
Hi Kingsley! I usually post twice a week, but due to my kitchen remodel, it’s been a bit tough with my regular posting… however, it’s just finished, and almost done with moving back in. I’ll be posting my recipes more regularly soon!
This is one of my first memories of Japan – Melon Cream Soda. Specifically at Tokyo Tower. When my husband went with me for the first time, I made him go to Tokyo Tower and drink it. I love it and so thank you for having this recipe that I can make!
You definitely had a fancy and memorable Melon Cream Soda experience at Tokyo Tower! 😉 Thanks for sharing your story with us!
I cannot say if the MARJAN brand of melon syrup from Indonesia tastes as good as the one from Japan… but it is available in Amazon and also in some local Asian market:
http://www.amazon.com/Marjan-Boudan-Melon-Syrup-21-3/dp/B005QBH1QY/ref=sr_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1442712388&sr=1-1&keywords=marjan+melon
Thank you Tuty for sharing this brand with me and my readers!
It seems like most places have their own unique spin on the “ice cream and soda” model and I can’t wait to try this one. I’m from New Orleans, Louisiana and down here we have a very unique version called a “Nectar Cream Soda” that should definitely be on any visiting foodie’s radar (but rarely is)
Hi Taylor! I will definitely remember Nectar Cream Soda! Thanks so much for sharing with me and my readers! 🙂
Natsukashii!! I wonder if it would taste the same as I remember from 40 years ago. =) It was one of my favourite drinks right up there with Yakult and cider.
Hi Rumi! Haha! When you drink it, I think it’ll bring you back to 40 years ago. 😀 Thank goodness Yakult is much easier to purchase here in the US… it’s always my favorite too!
I actually ordered this in Gion a few years ago because it looked so good, and got some funny looks from the older ladies in the restaurant, but I didn’t care 😉
Hi Sandi! Ahahaha! Trust me, many adults really want to order one, but they are a bit embarrassed. I’m with you, I don’t care as long as I get one! 😀
hahaha… I’m sure they all really wanted to order one too! 😀
Seeing this immediately brought back fond memories of summer vacations in Japan as a child visiting relatives. I’m going to make this for my kids! Thank you so much for sharing.
Hi MisaB! I hope my children will remember about their fun summer when they grow up, just like you do! 🙂 Thank you so much for reading my blog!
OMG…my daughter is going to be ecstatic when I tell her about this recipe! She…well, all of us (my mom, myself and my daughter) fell in love with melon soda in Japan. (I found it went pretty good with the curry at Meiji Jungo lol). I see a trip down to Mitsuwa in our near future 🙂
Thank you so much for posting this!!
Have fun getting your kitchen back in order – I’d actually love doing that lol
Christiellen
Hi Christiellen! I usually don’t like soba, but I an’t resisit the melon soda or cream soda… 😀 I hope your daughter (and all of you) will enjoy this! Mitsuwa should carry it – I really hope it does (especially during the summer months for the shaved ice). Thank you for your comment! I enjoy organizing too, but not so fun dusting off every single items…. yikes.
The drink looks so yummy and easy to make
Yeah it’s very easy to make! Thank you for your comment, Lucy!
This looks delicious and so simple!
Thank you Andrew!