Just last month we brought you news of its arrival and now it’s finally here! It’s the delicious/disgusting-sounding Eel Cola, made with real eel extract.
If the thought of drinking it makes you shudder, never fear: your intrepid RocketNews24 reporters have done the tasting for you. All the details after the break!
On a recent trip to Shizuoka Prefecture, we stopped by the Fujikawa Service Area for a pit-stop and came across this sign, alerting us to their special sales of eel cola.
▼ The advertising poster features stars of a popular morning television programme and includes nuggets of gold such as “Attack chance!” “Heeeeeeee?” and “Discover a refreshing eel!”
We went over to the fridge and picked up a 206 yen (US$1.71) bottle for tasting. We wonder how many foreign visitors with katakana-reading skills have picked this up thinking it was an innocent bottle of cola!
The first things we noticed was that the glass bottle was heavy and the label design was very different to those on your average soft drink. Combined with the dark colour of the liquid, it looked more like a bottle of soy or noodle sauce.
Upon decanting a little we found it was no different to regular cola; the colour, fizz, and even the aroma were exactly the same. Anticipating all sorts of fishy, eel flavours, we took a tentative sip and … we could hardly believe our taste buds. It tasted like regular cola! We didn’t know whether to feel duped or relieved.
Checking the back of the bottle, we saw the ingredients definitely include unagi eel extract. Surprisingly, the top ingredient was grape juice, followed by the eel extract and then carbonic acid, caramel colouring and flavours. This combination did a great job of masking any fishy flavours.
By the time we finished the bottle we had decided we were actually happy to have all the stamina-replenishing effects of unagi without the fishy taste. Now that we’ve drunk the extract of a slimy, river-lurking bottom-feeder, we might just move on to taste-testing the sea squirt ale!
Photos © RocketNews24
[ Read in Japanese ]
Our Japanese-language reporter tries eel cola so you don’t have to 【Taste Test】
Bacon soda’s new contender is here – Say hello to unagi cola!
Does eel ramen really taste like eel?
Coca-Cola Japan releases new clear coke this month, we get to try it before it goes on sale
We ordered RAW eel through the mail and achieved a state of total Unagi
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
We followed Tokyo’s mystery walking map and ended up creating our own bar-hopping adventure
Fewer ramen restaurants declare bankruptcy in Japan for first time in several years
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
Pokémon Lego kits are finally on their way!【Photos】
Village Vanguard tries to tickle us pink with a Pink Lucky Bag
Japanese women showing rebounding interest in giving Valentine’s Day chocolate【Survey】
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
The official cosplay booth models of Tokyo Game Show 2024【Photos】
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Umamusume anime girl plushie recalled for having parts she absolutely should not have【Pics】
Princess Mononoke magnets return just in time to treat yourself to awesome anime decorations
Top Japanese cosplayer Enako returns to Comiket after 6 years, creates mayhem with admirers
We ate sushi made from Japan’s most expensive tuna ever【Taste test】
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Human washing machine pods coming to Japanese hotels【Photos】
Eating Japan’s Mystery Eel, mysteriously, both is and isn’t like eating real eel【Taste test】
Japan creates Umeboshi Pickled Plum and Takuan Pickled Radish colas to pair with rice dishes
Eel-fortified chocolate now on sale in Japan
What’s it like to eat eel from a Japanese vending machine?
Apple coke is here! World-first flavour exclusive to Coca-Cola Japan
In Japan, you can now get Coca-Cola pre-mixed with coffee【Taste test】
We go to bed with Coca-Cola’s new Sleep Water to test its snooze-inducing effects
Japan gets a taste of Coca Cola Orange
Is Coca-Cola Japan’s brand-new strawberry Coke any good?【Taste test】
Does the eel from these cheap takeout shops pass the buyobuyo quality test? We find out
Coca-Cola Japan releases new Peach Coke for 2019
Peach Coca-Cola coming to Japan in a world-first for the company
Butter on sushi? We’d heard it was great, but we wouldn’t believe it without trying it ourselves
We try the delicious new Japan-only sakura Pepsi【Taste test】
Is Coca-Cola Japan’s new canned Jack Daniels cocktail better than mixing your own?【Taste test】
Is Japan’s highest-ranking unagi restaurant worth the six-month wait for a table? We find out
Leave a Reply