Usually we try to organize these updates by theme, but since no trend has emerged yet to rival the recent no sugar or vegetable liquor booms, here are a few noteworthy debuts in random order.
Japan Tobacco has a new soft drink, “Fresh Breath,” that promises to banish bad breath, thanks to ingredients like rosemary extract.
The grapefruit flavored drink is sugar free and zero calories, with a minimalist “masculine” package design that reads “for men.” Never mind that several of Japan Tobacco’s products might be responsible for the less than fresh breath in the first place.
Key Coffee is going the ultra-healthy route with its latest konnyaku-based drink, “Internal Beauty Health.” Konnyaku is a starchy vegetable native to Japan that is very high in fiber and contains almost no calories. It was the health-food-of-the-moment a few summers ago after a popular TV show raved about the product causing supermarket shelves to be emptied in a manner of days. Despite its purported detoxing effects, konnyaku has little taste and makes for a pretty dull diet.
(Typical konnyaku vs Key Coffee’s drinkable version)
The new beverage from Key Coffee however, mixes the stuff with apple juice, throws in some skin supporting ceramide, and claims that a glass a day before meals will have a noticeable health effect. Now that sounds more manageable, though maybe not the ¥5,880 for six 1L bottles that the website is charging.
Meanwhile Calpis is out to prove that you don’t need a vegetable on the can to sell an alcoholic beverage these days. With reported sales up 160% this year, the Calpis Bar Time series has decided to release two new flavors this summer: passionate mango and refreshing green apple.
The Bar Time series is edited by Shinobu Ishikagi, the 2005 International Bartending Association champion .
Those who still can’t get enough of the vegetable cocktails, however, can head down to the Vegesh Bar on the outdoor event space at the new Akasaka Sacas building from July 18 until August 31.
Vegesh is the latest veggie/fruity mash-up alky-pop from Asahi and Kagome.
I had a konyaku drink before with little pieces of konyaku floating in it and it was actually pretty good. For fresh breath, I would just eat a mint.
Where does the name Vegesh come from? Vegetable and what? Japan has some crazy drinks. I read there is even a beer for kids:
http://www.japanguidebook.com/articles/beer-kids-83.html