To say they do things a bit different in Japan would be a gross understatement with Fanta being no exception. In fact they have a whole bloody catalogue of flavours you won’t find anywhere else, and while some of them are absolute abominations, every so often they hit gold. Enter Sweet and Sour Lemon Fanta, a limited edition seasonal drink that actually tastes like something your mouth would willingly consume.
What is Sweet and Sour Lemon Fanta
So this is a seasonal Japan exclusive. It’s not available year round and once it’s gone, it’s gone. You might see it in vending machines, convenience stores like 7-Eleven or FamilyMart, and sometimes weird little mom and pop shops that somehow have stock from three summers ago. You won’t see it advertised. It just sort of appears.
The packaging is as subtle as a car crash. Bright yellow bottle with lemon slices slapped on the front like it’s trying to scream “I’m refreshing” into your dehydrated face. It’s got that classic Japanese design that makes everything look both medical and edible at the same time. Smells like powdered lemonade with a bit of something else going on. First sniff and you know you’re in for something citrusy.
How does Sweet and Sour Lemon Fanta taste
Shockingly good. It starts off sweet like regular lemon Fanta, then hits you with an actual sour kick. Not in a cartoon tongue-curling way, but a sharp little punch that sits at the back of your throat and actually makes you go “huh.” It’s like a Japanese take on cloudy lemonade but carbonated and sugared up just right.
The balance is spot on. Not overly sweet. Not mouth-puckering sour. Just enough tang to wake you up without killing the flavour. It’s got that very Japanese thing of feeling clean and crisp instead of syrupy and heavy. You could easily drink a whole bottle on a hot day and not feel like a diabetic coma is on the way.
I did not get to try it out, but I think this would go super great with vodka, or even Japanese whisky at a pinch. This is a truly pure summer drink and that can only go well with booze.
Fanta in Japan is an entire rabbit hole
People think Japan is all about sushi and anime but the drinks game here is next level. Fanta Calpis, which tasted like fizzy yoghurt. Fanta Grape which somehow always tastes better here than anywhere else. There’s been Melon Cream Soda Fanta, Mellow Muscat Fanta, Salty Lemon Fanta that was basically sports drink with sugar, and even things like Golden Kiwi and White Peach that come and go without warning.
The vending machines alone are a FantaQuest. Some random countryside station will have flavours that haven’t existed in Tokyo since 2014. Others will have something new that doesn’t even show up on the Coca Cola Japan website. Japan never announces this stuff. It just quietly rolls it out and waits to see who notices.
Sweet and Sour Lemon Fanta feels a bit more normal compared to the others. It doesn’t scream “look how weird we are” like some of the yoghurt or cream flavours. It’s actually something you could see selling in other countries if they weren’t all so boring.
I often wonder why the Japanese are so into Fanta, then I remember it was invited by their old pal the Nazis.
Should you try Sweet and Sour Lemon Fanta
If you’re in Japan and see this, buy it. No thinking. Just buy it. You’ll probably never see it again and it’s one of the better limited editions I’ve had in the country. Genuinely refreshing. Actually tastes like lemon. Not the usual chemically disaster.
Works on its own. Works with booze. Doesn’t taste like medicine. Doesn’t taste like a lab accident. It’s what Fanta should be doing instead of wasting money on things like Lychee Cream Soda or god forbid another melon flavour.
Final Verdict
This is a proper Fanta. No gimmicks. No aftertaste. No regret. It’s exactly what it says it is. Sweet. Sour. Lemon. Classic soda but with just enough bite to make it interesting.
Strong FantaQuest 8/10 and would/will 100 percent buy again if Japan ever releases it a second time. They probably wont though, instead making some kind go gross devils candy with corn or the like.