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Are you looking for a fun, easy, and quick cocktail for your summer outdoor patio party? If so, try making this Melona soju cocktail recipe! This fruity, creamy cocktail uses Korean soju, tonic water/Sprite, and Melona ice cream bars. Let’s learn how to make the popular Korean soju cocktail below!
Before we get started, I list further Carving A Journey soju-based drinks you may enjoy below!
- Soju and Tonic
- Soju Caipirinha
- Somaek (Soju and Beer)
- Yakult Soju Cocktail
- Yakult Soju Popsicles
- Strawberry Soju Cocktail
- Soju Lemonade Cocktail
What Is Melona?
‘Melona’ (메로나) is a Korean fruit-flavored ice cream bar first introduced by the Binggrae company in 1992, the same company that produces the flavored milk drinks (aka the famous Korean banana flavored milk).
These fruity ice cream treats have a distinctive rectangular shape and creamy, dense texture. Originally, Melona had one flavor, melon, from which this ice cream received its name. Now, this ice cream has 6 flavors: melon, coconut, banana, mango, strawberry, and ube!
Like many Korean desserts, these fruity ice cream sticks do not taste too sweet! They are truly the perfect refreshing summer treat!
What Is Soju?
‘Soju’ (소주) is a clear, colorless, neutral-flavored alcoholic spirit from Korea. Known as Korea’s “national drink,” soju is the most popularly consumed alcohol, alongside beer, in the country. Costing approximately $1.50 per 12-oz bottle in South Korea, people drink this affordable and widely available drink for every occasion. As I have previously stated in my Soju and Tonic recipe, for Korean people, soju is so much more than just a drink–it is an inseparable aspect of Korean social culture.
For an alcohol content reference: soju (20% ABV) compared to vodka (40% ABV).
Melona Soju Cocktail Ingredients:
Below, I list the ingredients used to make this delicious Korean cocktail. I also linked any informative articles on my site connected to these ingredients:
Melona Soju Ingredients:
- Melona Ice Cream Bar
- Soju
- Korean Cider (aka 7-Up or Sprite) OR Tonic Water
How to Make This Melona Soju Cocktail
Making a Melona soju drink is effortless. To make this drink, just combine equal parts soju and a fizzy drink (such as Sprite, 7-Up, or tonic) in a glass . You can choose to add ice. Or, let the ice cream chill your drink! Then, stir in your Melona bar until it melts into the drink.
To me, this is the perfect outdoor party cocktail. Prepare your bar with a cooler filled with different flavored Melona bars. Then, have another cooler filled with ice and a scoop. Finally, leave soju and your fizzy drink on the bar with your highball glasses. Allow everyone to make their own drink. The Melona bars act as a stirring stick and everyone can have fun with their different flavored and colored drinks!
Also, if you have kids at the party, you can let them eat the popsicles as well!
Melona Soju Cocktail Tips & Tricks:
Here, I list some helpful tips & tricks to help you make this quick and easy Korean cocktail. If you have any questions, leave a comment below or email me at [email protected]!
- Melona flavors currently include melon, coconut, banana, mango, strawberry, and ube! While I photograph the classic melon and mango flavors of Melona, you can use the flavors interchangeably for this recipe! I personally like mango and strawberry the best!
- I also use the classic, flavorless soju for this recipe. If you want to add more flavor, you can always use flavored soju as well. If you use flavored soju, I recommend coordinating the flavor of the ice cream with your soju flavor of choice.
- This drink isn’t exactly attractive. As the ice cream melts, it starts to look a little foamy. You should constantly stir to keep all the ingredients combined. For this reason, I recommend serving with a straw.
- If you want a sweeter drink, use Sprite or 7-Up. For a slightly less sweet drink, use tonic water. I personally prefer the tonic water version.
Melona Soju Cocktail Frequently Asked Questions:
Now that we learned some tips & tricks for making this cocktail recipe, I want to answer some questions you may have as well! If I do not answer your question, feel free to leave a comment in the section below or email me at [email protected].
What Does This Korean Cocktail Taste Like?
This Korean cocktail tastes sweet, fruit, and creamy. The fruity flavor changes depending on the flavor of the ice cream you use! It tastes similar to some candies such as Starburst!
Does This Recipe Contain Major Allergens? (Gluten, Soy, Etc.)
Before listing all of the major allergens, I want to state that all of my recipes are naturally gluten-free. On this blog, I only use and recommend gluten-free ingredients and brands. That being said, I list gluten as a potential allergen when necessary– this is because many Korean ingredients (such as soy sauce, gochujang, and doenjang) contain gluten unless you specifically buy gluten-free versions. Not only is this true for gluten, but it is true for other major allergens as well. As such, I always list allergy substitutions in the next section of my post.
This recipe does not contain 8 of the 9 major allergens. It does not contain:
- Tree nuts
- Peanuts
- Wheat (Gluten)
- Soybeans
- Sesame
- Fish
- Crustacean Shellfish
- Eggs
This recipe does contain 1 of the 9 major allergens. It contains:
- Milk (Dairy)
Allergy Substitutions or Omissions:
For those with a milk (dairy) allergy:
Unfortunately, the main ingredient for this recipe is Melona–a Korean ice cream bar. These bars contain milk. For those with a dairy allergy, I recommend avoiding this recipe. Thankfully, I have many other soju cocktails on my blog you can choose from! You can find these soju recipes listed at both the beginning and end of this blog post, as well as the beverage recipe category. Further, you can look up ‘soju’ in the search bar and come across these recipes.
Is This Recipe Vegetarian or Vegan?
Excitingly, this recipe is naturally vegetarian! Unfortunately, it is not vegan as it contains dairy from the Melona ice cream.
Where Do I Buy the Ingredients?
You can sometimes find Melona ice cream bars at your local well-stocked grocery store, but this is quite rare. Instead, I recommend shopping at your local Asian grocery store, such as H-Mart.
Then, while shopping at the Asian grocery store, you can also buy soju. Soju is often sold at these stores or the liquor stores next to them. Note that soju is alcohol, so some states require you to buy this spirit at a liquor store.
Where to Buy Korean Ingredients Online?
Nowadays, there are many online options to choose from to order Korean food online. These websites are not limited to but include:
- Amazon
- H-mart
- Hanpoom
- Wooltari
That being said, soju and Melona are difficult to buy online because the former is alcohol and the latter is something frozen.
I Hope You Enjoyed Learning How to Make This Korean Melona Soju Cocktail Recipe!!
In the end, I hope you enjoyed learning how to make this favorite summer Korean soju cocktail recipe! If so, let me know in the comment section! Also, let me know if you have a favorite summer cocktail you make at home.
If you would like to read more about cooking, you can find further recipes on this blog. I listed some of my favorite Carving A Journey recipes below! For reference, many recipes are influenced by my family’s blended Korean and Southern heritage.
Further Carving A Journey Soju Cocktail Recipes:
- Soju and Tonic
- Soju Caipirinha
- Somaek (Soju and Beer)
- Yakult Soju Cocktail
- Yakult Soju Popsicles
- Strawberry Soju Cocktail
- Soju Lemonade Cocktail
If you have any questions or comments, you can also email me at [email protected].
And, finally, I would love to hear from you through our social media as well! You can follow me at @carvingajourney on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I also started a vlog Youtube channel with my husband! Or, if you would like more articles like these, you can subscribe to the blog by joining the mailing list. Let me know if you try making this Korean Melona soju cocktail recipe! Thank you so much for stopping by!
Melona Soju Cocktail Recipe
1
servings5
minutesIngredients
3 Oz Soju
6 Oz Sprite, 7-Up, or Tonic Water
1 Melona Ice Cream Bar
Optional: Ice
Directions
- In a glass combine, your soju and tonic water (or Sprite/7-Up)
- Then, add in the whole Melona ice cream bar. Use the stick to stir in the ice cream until it melts. Serve with a straw.
- Note: If adding ice, do this before adding your soju and tonic water to the glass. Fill your glass half-way with the ice. I enjoy this cocktail with or without ice.
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