The Weird World of Japanese Beverages
Japan has a reputation for strange drinks, the likes of Pokari Sweat and Calpis are world famous for various reasons, but recently quite a number new odd looking drinks have been doing the rounds. I, of course, have made it my mission to taste them all and report my findings.
Toranoco
Tabasco sauce is powerful stuff. While you pour it on your pizza, have you ever thought it would be a good idea to gulp a mouthful down? No? That’s not a surprise, nobody has. Quite what inspired the design of this drink is anyone’s guess. For the record, this drink is not some sort of spicy monster but just a cola with an strange colour. It’s tastes like one of those cheap colas your mum used to buy because they were 20p for a 2 litre bottle in Sainsbury’s. Not recommended.
Fanta U.S.A Hip Hop
Only included here because of the name. What, pray tell, does U.S.A Hip hop taste like? According to the folks at Fanta, hip hop has the taste of mixed fruit. It turns out it is lush. If hip hop is the flavour of mixed fruit, remind me to lick the face of Grandmaster Flash next time he is in town. Given the Fanta’s marketing team’s mad imagination, I am anxiously awaiting the release of U.K. Indie (sour lemonade) and Jamaica Reggae (pineapple).
Chocolate Sparkling
Yes, you read that right, this is a sparkling chocolate soda. Incredibly it smells just like hot chocolate, the taste is of wet farts though. Only managed a few mouthfuls before I gave up and poured it down the sink. Avoid.
Fanta Moo Moo White
Good old Fanta, not content with naming things after musical genres they also name things after animal noises. The bottle is the real star of this package, all white with cow markings on the outside. At first I thought that this was some sort of Calpis wannabe but it doesn’t taste anything like it. Apparently it is made with yoghurt but I think it is just cream soda. Not it’s biggest fan but you have to appreciate the effort.
