This is the Asahi Mintia Cream Soda, a limited edition twist on the mints that evokes a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of the kissaten, or traditional coffee shops, that flourished during Japan’s Shōwa era when coffee gained popularity.
This particular flavour took inspiration from the classic ‘cream soda,’ a beloved kissaten offering featuring melon soda topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a glace cherry.
The packaging design was a nod to the presentation of melon soda in those shops.
The mints featured a circular shape, measuring approximately 7 mm in diameter and 3 mm in height. They presented an opaque white appearance with green flavour chips of crushed vanilla ice cream flavoured candy. A delightful aroma reminiscent of melon soda was immediately noticeable upon opening the package, accurately reflecting the flavour. Upon tasting, the mints revealed the sweet and familiar melon soda taste. Shortly after, a creamy vanilla flavour took centre stage, offering prominent sweet milky notes that dominated the overall taste just as the fruitiness of the melon flavour receded into the background. As the mint dissolved, a gentle cooling sensation graced the palate, courtesy of the sorbitol used as an artificial sweetener, which intriguingly enhanced the ice cream aspect of the vanilla flavour. While these mints closely resembled the experience of enjoying a melon cream soda, the intense sweet milk flavour might not be to everyone’s liking.
This Asahi Mintia Cream Soda contained 7 g (50 pieces). It was produced in Japan and purchased in Tōkyō, Japan in 2023.