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Ingredients
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Ramune Soda (makes 1 bottle / 12 fl oz)
Optional variations / garnish (per bottle)
Method
Ramune Soda (makes 1 bottle / 12 fl oz)
- 1
Chill equipment
Chill a 12 fl oz glass or the Ramune bottle and the carbonated water in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Using chilled water preserves carbonation and gives a crisp finish.
- 2
Dissolve sugar
In a small cup, combine the granulated sugar and fresh lemon juice. Stir until most of the sugar is dissolved (about 20–30 seconds). If you prefer perfectly dissolved sugar, preheat 1 tablespoon of water, dissolve sugar in it to make a small amount of syrup, then cool before using. The small amount of simple syrup ingredient can be used instead of this step.
- 3
Assemble
Place 4 ice cubes into your chilled glass (optional). Pour 12 fl oz chilled carbonated water slowly into the glass, leaving about 1/2 inch headspace.
- 4
Flavor
Stir the lemon + sugar mixture into the carbonated water gently with a bar spoon, making one or two slow strokes to avoid excessive fizzing. Add the lemon extract (or yuzu extract) and the 1/2 tsp clear simple syrup (optional, for extra gloss/roundness). Stir once gently to combine.
- 5
Taste and adjust
Taste the soda. Add up to another 1/2 tsp clear simple syrup or 1/4 tsp lemon juice if you want sweeter or brighter flavor. If using optional fruit syrup or yuzu in place of lemon, add at this stage and stir gently.
- 6
Garnish and serve
If desired, add cucumber slices or mint leaves to the glass for a subtle aromatic note. Serve immediately while fizzy. If using a Ramune-style bottle with a marble top, pour the prepared soda into the bottle carefully, or prepare directly in the bottle by adding the dissolved sugar mixture and flavorings then topping with chilled carbonated water.
Optional variations / garnish
- 7
Lychee / fruit: Add 1/2 tsp clear fruit syrup (lychee or preferred) to the soda along with or instead of the simple syrup and stir gently.
- 8
Herbal: Slap mint leaves between your palms to release aroma and drop them into the glass; stir once. For cucumber, float 2–3 thin slices on top.
- 9
Yuzu-forward: Replace fresh lemon juice with equal amount of yuzu juice and increase yuzu extract by 1/8 tsp if available. Proceed as above.