Review : Iemon Kyoto Lemonade
Released on October 18, 2022, Iemon's Kyoto Lemonade. Since Monster Energy's new product, "Rehab Lemonade Tea," is going to be released soon, I decided to give this a try.
The name "Iemon Kyoto Lemonade" and the transparency of the bottle gave me a sense of anticipation even before I took a sip.
Author: Energy Drink-kun
In 2001, while living in the United States, I encountered energy drinks through the dance scene and was deeply impressed. After returning to Japan, I found that energy drinks were considered novelty beverages, so I established a comprehensive website in 2013 to share the true appeal of energy drinks. As an energy drink enthusiast, I began drinking them seriously again, collecting over 7,000 varieties of energy drinks from various countries. I am also active as a critic and expert, receiving media interviews.
Flavor of Iemon Kyoto Lemonade
As the tagline "Whole squeezed lemon and honey" suggests, the taste is similar to Suntory's classic product "Honey Lemon."
The feature of Iemon Kyoto Lemonade is that it contains green tea, which gives it a refreshing bitterness and astringency from catechins. This is what makes it different from regular sweet lemonade, and the unique refreshing taste and flavor expansion from the green tea is the secret to the deliciousness of Kyoto Lemonade.
That said, it's not just "lemonade mixed with green tea," so don’t worry. The refreshing bitterness and astringency from catechins are gently recreated within the lemonade.
The combination of lemonade and Japanese green tea is exquisite, with the richness and umami of the lemonade paired with the astringency and refreshing finish of the green tea, making it a sophisticated, adult-friendly Japanese-style lemonade tea.
Whether or not you enjoy this green tea flavor will likely depend on your taste preferences.
Although it’s "whole squeezed lemon," the fruit juice content is only 1%. There's no strong fruitiness, and the lemon flavor is at the level of honey lemon. Thanks to the name Kyoto Lemonade and the astringency of the green tea, it still feels somewhat refined, but that’s my honest impression.
High Sugar Content is a Drawback
One bottle contains about 52g of carbohydrates. While the refreshing taste of lemonade and green tea is enjoyable, the sugar content might be a concern.
With this flavor, I think it could have been recreated at almost a sugar-free level, and personally, I would have been happy if Iemon Kyoto Lemonade was structured more like the "Monster Energy Rehab Lemonade Tea," which has less sugar and is healthier.
It would be great if Japan could move towards reducing sugar content more in the future.
Design of Iemon Kyoto Lemonade
The simple design of the Iemon bottle, combined with the label that evokes the feeling of "Japanese lemonade," gives it a retro vibe, as if it were in a glass bottle, and I really like this atmosphere.
Japan, having been isolated for so long, now welcomes a large number of tourists. I hope that foreign visitors who have come with an interest in Japan will enjoy this affordable and delicious Japanese lemonade, "Iemon Kyoto Lemonade," which can be bought for under 100 yen.
Since 2001, Energy Drink Maniac has been drinking energy drinks and providing the most detailed reviews of global energy drinks based on firsthand research.
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The collection includes approximately 7,000 types of energy drinks from different countries, sizes, and designs.