Transparent Milk Tea, Memory Gum – 4 Wildly Popular Japanese Souvenirs to Try

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Looking for new souvenir options in Japan? The country has recently launched a slew of creative food items that are as fun in name as they are in appearance. Take “Memory Gum,” for instance, which seems to bring Doraemon’s memory bread gadget to life – it’s been causing a buying frenzy among Taiwanese netizens. This article rounds up 4 must-buy creative food souvenirs to try in Japan – great for tasting yourself or giving as gifts.

▲ Memory Gum. (Photo / Authorized by G-Ge, please do not reproduce without permission)

1. Memory Gum
Released in early September, according to the official website, Memory Gum is primarily targeted at middle-aged and senior consumers. It contains ginkgo extract, which helps maintain memory function.

Not only is the name amusing, but the packaging – both inside and out – also features a memory challenge. For example, it shows you a series of shapes to memorize, then asks what the shape on the far right was when you flip it over. With its built-in memory test, this gum has had netizens exclaiming, “Finally, something for goldfish brains!”

▲ Suntory’s “Transparent Milk Tea” from Japan. (Photo / Reporter Li Zi Yi)

2. Transparent Milk Tea
Suntory has also launched “Transparent Milk Tea,” which looks just like a bottle of plain mineral water from the outside, but once opened, it gives off a strong aroma of milk tea. The striking contrast between its visual simplicity and flavorful taste is truly memorable.

“Transparent Milk Tea” is produced by Japanese company Suntory. By extracting essence from tea leaves and milk, they’ve created a naturally flavored milk tea that’s colorless. It does contain milk, though you can’t tell just by looking. Despite having no color, it still contains calories. It’s available at Japanese convenience stores, supermarkets, and drugstores.

▲ Limited-edition Coca-Cola Coffee from Japanese vending machines. (Photo / Reporter Cai Wen Jun)

3. Coca-Cola Coffee
Japanese Coca-Cola has come up with another wild idea – the super unique “Coca-Cola Coffee,” which lets you enjoy the flavors of both coffee and carbonated drinks. But it’s not so easy to get your hands on – this special Coca-Cola Coffee is only sold in vending machines, and is limited to the Kanto region. If you’re visiting Tokyo soon, be sure to check the street vending machines for this one-of-a-kind drink.

▲ Transparent Strawberry Water from Japan. (Photo / Reporter Cai Wen Jun)

4. Strawberry Water
Similar in concept to transparent milk tea, this drink looks like regular mineral water from the outside, but delivers a rich strawberry flavor once you take a sip. Originally sold only in Kyushu, the strawberry water has become so popular that it’s now available at convenience stores across Japan. Its sweet taste is sure to delight anyone with a sweet tooth.