new products

Mello Yello returns to Japan

27 Comments

Coca-Cola Japan has reintroduced two classic soft drinks as part of a retro summer campaign. The drinks to be reintroduced are Mello Yello, a caffeinated, citrus-flavored soft drink first introduced on March 1, 1979 to compete with PepsiCo's Mountain Dew, and Sprite, a lemon-lime flavored, caffeine-free soft drink, introduced in the United States in 1961.

The drinks will be reproduced in both flavor and packaging as similarly as possible to the originals to maximize on the recent cult of retro cool and passion for all things '80s. The price is 120 for a 350-ml can and 147 yen for a 500-ml PET bottle.

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27 Comments
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If you want to stay healthy do not drink any American soft drinks.

I had no idea that America was the only country in the world to carry soft drinks. I'll drink Lifeguard and Calpis, since these drinks are so much healthier for you. I keep forgetting, no Japanese person ever, ever drinks sodas.

which is healthier, radioactive green tea or artificially oversweetened soft drinks? we do not have much choice.

Are you serious??! Which one would be worse, hmmm.....I'd rather have 5 cavities than 1 teaspoon of radioactive tea any time! That choice is of course obvious!

I tried Sprite about a year ago and something was a bit off, tasted artificial, don't think they used real sugar. 7up on the other hand in Japan had a very lite and crisp taste, but I've always preferred the lighter taste over the heavily sugared Sprite. Problem is both are difficult to get. I found 7up in a vending machine deep in the countryside one day, was really surprised, but happy to see it. Kinda like an old friend from way back.

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Looking forward to trying Mello Yello for the first time...

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@Carcharodon: Nope HFCS was invented by the Japanese. See: usc.edu/org/InsightBusiness/archives/spring2005/corn.htm

.....High fructose corn syrup, made from cornstarch, was invented in the 1960s by Japanese scientists and has since unlocked a way for food manufacturers to sweeten their products for a fraction of what they would pay for traditional sweeteners such as sucrose.....

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not encouraging!! And whatever happened to good old 7-Up???

Talk to PepsiCo, and I have seen 7 Up btw sold in liquor stores and discount grocery stores in Japan so I am going to say that it's here, but not all that popular.

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Can't help but think of Donovan's 1966 rendition of "Mellow Yellow". In fact, now I can't get the tune out of my head. Maybe a swig of Mello Yello will do the trick.

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ace! stuff!

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Why would someone vote bad for asking if they use real sugar? It's a question not a statement... how can you dislike a question?

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Artificial flavors and preservatives-great for profits bad for us!

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which is healthier, radioactive green tea or artificially oversweetened soft drinks? we do not have much choice.

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Do they use real sugar?

I believe so, HFCS is an American creation designed utilize a crop they grow. Japan has to import both cane sugar or HFCS so why bother importing evil HFCS when you can get the just moderately dangerous regular old sugar?

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Mello Yellow! any Australian or Nzer who lived in the early 80's will recall this absolute cracker of an ad for Mellow Yellow. ...youtube.com/watch?v=RywjUBsKDxo

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Dont know about the mellow yellow but, they should never have discontinued Sprite. Pepsico's 7-up is a favourite but, it is not available everywhere so, its Cocacola cousin is always welcome provided it is widely available.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Mello Yello is in every conbini by me now, though I have yet to see the Sprite.

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Gotta love retro anything.

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Do they use real sugar?

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Nice - just what we need. More sugar-loaded fizzy drinks to add to the dental carnage in this neck of the woods.

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Sprite was sold here a few years back. Some of the Drinks seem to come and go with the times.

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I have always wondered why Sprite was not sold here. I miss it and will be buying some. Great with pimms!!

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Zenny, we don't have Fami-Mart up here.

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Since a lot of people I know were excited about this coming back, I tried it on the weekend.

it was the most underwhelming experience of the year.

Think of Mitsuya Cider, but yellow, and not as tasty.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

If you want to stay healthy do not drink any American soft drinks.

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Try Fami-Mart they stock it. Haven't seen Sprite yet though.

Mello Yello is mostly for the Caffeine addicts as it packs a high contents.

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I checked Lawson a few days ago and they didn't have it. Maybe again only a Tokyo thing.

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Are they for sale in all stores? Some of my friends and customers would love these retro cans.

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The photo looks like a Chinese knock-off version... not encouraging!! And whatever happened to good old 7-Up???

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Tasty? looks like using re-cycled tin.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

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