Japanese Canada Dry in the US?

August 25, 2007 8:24 AM

Is there anywhere I can buy Japanese Canada Dry in the United States? Or, ideally, in the SF Bay Area?
posted by DoctorFedora to food & drink (11 comments total)

I'm curious, what's special about Japanese Canada Dry?
posted by jjb at 8:31 AM on August 25, 2007

It's much stronger flavor-wise, although it's not like Vernor's, which is just richer/sweeter. It's more like ginger beer.
posted by DoctorFedora at 8:44 AM on August 25, 2007

Have you looked at Nijiya and Super Mira?
posted by trip and a half at 9:29 AM on August 25, 2007

I'm actually not in the Bay Area yet, though I hope to be in the nearish future, so I can't check these places quite yet. : )
posted by DoctorFedora at 9:33 AM on August 25, 2007

If you're interested in stronger ginger flavor, give Reed's Extra Ginger Beer a try.
posted by neckro23 at 10:21 AM on August 25, 2007

Seconding Reed's. Never had the Japanese Canada Dry, but Reed's is great. They carry it at Trader Joe's.

Maybe 99 Ranch would have the imported stuff?
posted by contraption at 1:21 PM on August 25, 2007

I drank Canada Dry a lot when I lived in Japan. I don't remember it being any different the Canadian Canada Dry. You could be right though.
posted by robofunk at 2:30 PM on August 25, 2007

I noticed it was quite different from the American stuff, at least. Maybe Canada's is better too.
posted by DoctorFedora at 9:48 PM on August 25, 2007

Disclaimer: The following is based on my limited experience in Japan drinking soda.

All soda in Japan tasted better to me and the main difference is that soda in Japan tasted to be made with real sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). The Coke and ginger ale both tasted WAY better than the US counterparts. I doubt you'll be able to readily find sugar-based Canada Dry anywhere in America, but there may be a SF-based exception.

Your better bet is to go a higher-end grocery store and get ginger ale made with sugar, not HFCS. Whole Foods has a few varieties. Other places like Trader Joes should, too.
posted by Sasquatch at 10:47 AM on August 27, 2007

Maybe a Canadian can verify that Canada Dry is made with sugar up north?
posted by Sasquatch at 10:47 AM on August 27, 2007

I'm pretty sure Canada Dry is made with corn syrup here, like all sodie pop. Next time I'm in a convenience store I'll double check.
posted by Jupiter Jones at 12:24 PM on August 28, 2007