When you travel abroad, one of the most exciting things is the food—especially enjoying local drinks with local meals, right? 🍽️🍶 So, if you’re planning a trip to Japan, how about pairing Japanese dishes with a refreshing chu-hi? Let’s dive into the flavorful world of chu-hi and discover why it’s a must-try for your Japan adventure!
Chu-hi
Do you know about Japanese izakaya culture? An izakaya is a Japanese-style bar restaurant where you can order several small dishes and enjoy a variety of alcoholic drinks. The atmosphere is lively and cozy, often with dim lighting and energetic staff calling out orders with enthusiasm. It’s a truly unique part of Japanese culture—and such a fantastic experience!
One of the best ways to enjoy an izakaya is by trying different drinks. Japanese people love mixing liquor with soda. For example, we often drink whisky with soda, gin with soda, or shochu with soda. Sometimes, we even add a splash of citrus juice for extra freshness. When we mix shochu with soda, we call it chu-hi in Japanese—and there are so many fun and fruity chu-hi flavors to explore!
GINON LIME
Chu-hi is easy to enjoy—even for those who don’t usually drink alcohol. It’s light, refreshing, and pairs beautifully with Japanese food. Because of its clean taste, it doesn’t overpower the delicate flavors of the dishes. Chu-hi is known for its crisp and clear profile, making it a perfect match for everything from sushi to fried snacks.
Another great thing is the variety of alcohol content. Most chu-hi drinks are around 4–5%, but if you prefer something stronger, there are options with 7% or even 9% alcohol.
And here’s the fun part—Japanese convenience stores (konbini) and supermarkets offer a huge lineup of chu-hi! From plain and dry to fruity and sweet, from low alcohol to bold and strong, the selection is exciting and full of surprises. I always find something new and interesting to try!
Let me introduce one of my favorite clear-tasting chu-hi: GINON Lime.
GINON is a product by Asahi, and it comes in three flavors: lemon, grapefruit, and lime. Each GINON chu-hi contains 7% alcohol, and a 350ml can costs around 180 yen—what a great deal!
Asahi is very particular about their gin. They avoid any off-flavors or unnecessary sweetness. Instead, they use a flavorful gin made by macerating citrus peels and then distilling them, so the citrus aroma really stands out! It’s sugar-free and simple, just the way chu-hi lovers like it.
GINON Lemon and Grapefruit are also delicious and full of flavor, but I personally prefer Lime. GINON Lime never overpowers any dish—it’s the most refreshing chu-hi I’ve tried. The lime flavor gently appears after each sip, just at the right moment. Thanks to its clean and crisp taste, I find myself eating and drinking GINON Lime endlessly!
Just like GINON or other chu-hi, you definitely need a glass full of ice before pouring your drink. The ice makes it more delicious and gives you that izakaya feeling at home. It also enhances the refreshing and clear taste—perfect for relaxing or pairing with food.
GINON Lime goes especially well with rich dishes like gyoza (Chinese dumplings), karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken), or curry rice. Thanks to its super refreshing flavor, it balances out the heaviness of the meal without overpowering it. Of course, GINON is also great on its own when you just want something crisp and clean!
Conclusion? GINON goes well with everything! 🍋🍗🍛
If you want to know more about Japanese drinks, don’t hesitate to check out my article below!
Summary
I always start with a glass of beer at home—this is part of izakaya culture! In Japan, middle-aged people often order beer first at an izakaya, even if they don’t really like it. I’m not sure why, but maybe it’s because of old company traditions. Once upon a time, a boss who loved beer would order it first, and all the coworkers had to follow. It’s kind of ridiculous… but I truly love beer, so I keep this izakaya style at home!
That said, I get full pretty quickly, so I switch to chu-hi every night. Choosing a chu-hi from my fridge is one of my favorite moments of the day! There are so many kinds waiting for me—each one with a different flavor and alcohol level. It’s like a mini adventure in a can!
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