With heat exceeding 86°F already recorded in May, including a sweltering 103°F in Hokkaido, it looks like an early start to summer this year in Japan.

What better way to beat the heat than enjoying cold beverages and iced treats. Anyone who has visited Japan knows that convenience stores and supermarkets will always stock a large variety of canned cocktail beverages, which come in a dizzying array of flavors which change from season to season. Many of these cocktails are shochu based chu-hai cocktails, and one of the most famous brands is Kirin's Hyōketsu. And when it comes to iced treats, nothing beats the convenience of Ezaki Glico's Ice no Mi アイスの実 sherbet balls, with their insulated pouch containers so you can take them with you and pop them in your mouth one by one.

Hyōketsu Loves Ice no Mi

If you like both, you'll be happy to know what's waiting for you at the convenience store the next time you visit Japan. Kirin and Ezaki Glico decided it would be a good idea to join forces, creating a limited-edition Hyōketsu which went on sale on May 21st. Suitably enough, they've called "Hyōketsu loves Ice no Mi"

The flavors of peach, melon and grape flavored Ice no Mi are blended into the Hyoketsu chuhai, creating a fruity and refreshing cocktail perfect for the summer months.

"Hyōketsu loves Ice no Mi" 氷結 loves アイスの実 is available in 350 ml and 500 ml cans, and can be found in most convenience stores, supermarkets and liquor shops in Japan, while supplies last.

For more information, see their page on Kirin's website.

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Hyoketsu and Ice no Mi: Summer Cocktail ideas

While the idea of swirling a few Ice no Mi balls into a glass of Hyōketsu has been around for at least a few years, "Hyōketsu loves Ice no Mi" is the perfect excuse to try it. When you combine the two, you can create a visually pleasing and fun cocktail which you can serve at parties or just enjoy by yourself.

In honor of the occasion, we bought the three flavors represented in "Hyōketsu loves Ice no Mi" but you can buy any flavor you want.

Then, we decided to take things one step further and make balled ice cubes out of "Hyōketsu loves Ice no Mi." This allows you to avoid watering down your cocktail while also maintaining the cute ball aesthetic.

You can create your own combinations and mix as you wish! Kampai!