Ito En Vivit's Chiba Pear Soda: Even with lockdown measures (which I guess as of several hours ago have been lifted in Tokyo), I tried to take a daily walk to a vending machine to try something new. However, I stopped doing that about a month ago as I was running out of desirable options and was worried I might get diabetes. I got this from a discount vending machine having previously had the peach version of this line of sodas. The pear version tastes like a concentrated, slightly more balanced ramune, but still very swee... (read more) 3.0/5.0
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Otsuka Match Jelly: Match Jelly is a popular citrus soda that's the color of electric yellow Gatorade and is similarly fortified with "nutrition" like Vitamin B6, Niacin, and Vitamin C. I haven't actually had Match soda before, but it's a standard vending machine staple. While vending machines have full-sized bottles, they also usually have a small selection of half-size containers, which I like to buy when I'm thirsty but not wanting more than a single serving. I purchased this "jelly" version of Match f... (read more) 4.0/5.0
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Pokka Sapporo Ribbon Jelly Grape Drink: This is another grape jelly drink I purchased from a vending machine. It comes in a plastic bottle as opposed to a can. I like this one less than the other as the jelly is not carbonated, so the overall taste is not as unique. It's essentially a grape juice for kids that contains jelly that you break up by shaking the bottle. One benefit the plastic bottle has over the can, though, is that you can reclose and shake the bottle some more in the case that the jelly doesn't break up evenly. 3.0/5.0
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Suntory Bikkle drink: This tastes exactly like Yakult, the Asian yogurt i had growing up in miniature plastic milk jug contained. It's very sweet and doesn't taste of plain yogurt - I think e have comes more from the milky opaque color thank any flavor profile. Purchased at a vending machine in Tokyo. 3.0/5.0
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Vivit's Peach Mix Soda: This was a vending machine purchase made out of dehydration. In the US, I had solely associated Ito En with calorie-free bottles of ice tea, but they own a wide variety of brands of sweet drinks in Japan. This one is extremely sweet and reminds me a lot of ramune, but tasting of peach instead of pear. It's also very fizzy and one of the more carbonated drinks I've had here. Maybe it's the nostalgia of drinking ramune as a kid, but I really liked this one, even though I could tell it was ... (read more) 4.0/5.0
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Yamada Bee Factory 塩とシークヮーサーはちみつ: A second beverage I had from the hospital vending machine is this salted citrus beverage with organic honey. Its color, an electric yellow-green, makes me naturally think of lemon Gatorade, which it has a similar flavor to except the sweetness has a little more depth, and the consistency is a slightly thicker on the tongue. A decent sweet beverage good for the impending summer heat. 3.5/5.0
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