This is the Ito En Kissaten no Koi Banana Cream Soda. Inspired by the kissaten of mid-20th-century Japan, which served a variety of fountain cream sodas, this banana cream soda recreates that nostalgic flavour—though it contains no fruit juice.
The beverage had an opaque, light yellow hue with a fragrant banana aroma and moderate effervescence. Consumed chilled, the banana flavour was immediate—sweet, floral, and intensely fragrant. While clearly artificial, it was strikingly authentic, reminiscent of classic banana-flavoured candies. The flavour developed into a creamy, smooth mouthfeel, rich and noticeably sweet in the first half of the sip. This transitioned into a gentle acidity from the soda base, which became more pronounced in the latter half, creating a thinner and more refreshing mouthfeel than banana milk. While this texture also indicated the use of acesulfame potassium as an artificial sweetener, the carbonation helped mask its bitterness, cleansing the palate and leaving a clean aftertaste without the characteristic lingering bitterness.
Overall, the beverage successfully captured the nostalgic flavour of a banana cream soda, though it is not necessarily one we would repurchase.
This Ito En Kissaten no Koi Banana Cream Soda contained 480 mL. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2025.