Japan’s supermarkets provide food and drinks that are cheap, tasty, and downright strange. Here are my top 5 most obscure drinks in Japan!
1. Miracle Body V
It could be the most normal-tasting drink in the world, but with a name like Miracle Body V, it’s definitely on the top of my list of most obscure drinks in Japan!
Truthfully, it doesn’t taste too bad, resembling something of a fizzy vitamin C drink combined with a shot of caffeine, supposedly designed to keep you awake while also helping your body recover after a workout.
2. Skal
Skal is an interesting and rather unique drink that combines yogurt and carbonated soda in a seamless and harmonious way, resulting in a creamy yet fizzy texture.
I like to describe Skal as a “milk soda” of sorts, bringing with it a sweet flavor with a hint of sourness, resulting in a beverage that has the delicious taste of a soft drink and the nutritional and digestive benefits of yogurt.
3. Chocola BB
On the outside, Chocola BB resembles some kind of medicine given the small “shot-like” size of its glass bottle, but rest assured you can find them in the standard drinks section of any combini or supermarket in Japan.
As its labeling and imagery suggest, this drink is essentially a highly concentrated shot of mixed berries that are packed with all sorts of vitamins, resulting in a healthy hit of bodily nutrients and a taste that’s, well, not so great (it’s quite sour!).
4. Real Gold
Perhaps not so obscure per se but still worthy of a spot on this list, Real Gold is a brand you’ve probably never come across outside of Japan, possessing a label design that promises high energy and rapid alertness.
Like Miracle Body V, this drink is designed to give you a hit of caffeine and vitamins, but differs in proportions, giving out more caffeine and fewer vitamins than its competitor.
5. Calpis Melon Cream Soda
Last but certainly not least is a drink you’ll find at every Japanese supermarket, convenience store, and vending machine; Calpis Melon Cream Soda!
This drink is a mighty combination of probiotic yogurt, carbonated soda, and melon soda (a Japanese favorite!) that creates a deliciously sweet flavor, a creamy yet fizzy texture, and a blissful vanilla ice cream aftertaste.
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