Japan’s newest Pepsi flavor

Both Pepsi and Coca-Cola in Japan often sell their products in unique “Japan only” flavors (so does Kit-Kat in Japan).

I’ve written posts about:
Pepsi Azuki,
Pepsi Shiso
and a couple other flavors of Pepsi and Coke in Japan.

Well, Pepsi is an official sponsor of the “2010 Soccer World Cup” which will be hosted by South Africa this summer.
I’m not a big soccer fan. In fact, the first time I had even heard of the “World Cup” was when Japan co-hosted it with South Korea in 2002.

But in honor of the 2010 World Cup, on 2010 May 25, Pepsi will be selling a new product here in Japan called 「ペプシ・バオバブ」 (“Pepsi Baobab“).

「ペプシバオバブ」 ("Pepsi Baobab")

According to Wikipedia, the Baobab is an unusual looking tree (a picture of one is on the “Pepsi Baobab” label) native to Africa.
Supposedly, the fruit is extremely healthy.
I’ve never heard of it before and I have no idea how the fruit tastes…but maybe I’ll try this new Pepsi flavor once it goes on sale just out of curiosity.

The ad for 「ペプシバオバブ」 (“Pepsi Baobab”) has eight soccer players named ロシアのアルシャビン (“Arshavin” of Russia), ドイツのバラック (“Ballack” of Germany), スぺインのトーレス (“Torres” of Spain), コートジポワールのドログバ (“Drogba” of Côte d’Ivoire), ブラジルのカカー (“Kaka” of Brazil), フランスのアンリ (“Henry” of France), アルゼンチンのメッシ (“Mercier” of Argentina) and イングランドのランパード (“Lampard” of England).

Ad for 「ペプシバオバブ」 ("Pepsi Baobab")

Also, 「マウンテンデゥー」 (“Mountain Dew“) is owned by Pepsi and in Japan they’re currently selling their drink in cans decorated with characters from the 「メタルギアソリッドピースウォーカー」 (“Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker“) game series.

Ad for the "Mountain Dew" / "Metal Gear" limited edition cans

And, I have written posts about the cell-phone straps that often come with purchases of “Pepsi NEX” in Japan.
For example…
the Samurai straps,  the Snoopy straps,  and the Star Wars Be@rbricks.

(I have written posts about other Be@rbrick characters in Japan besides the Star Wars ones before:
the MOS Burger Be@rbricks,  and the KISS Be@rbrick).

Well, Pepsi NEX has teamed up with Be@rbrick again.
Now, with purchases of Pepsi NEX in Japan, they’re offering bear cell-phone straps in the likeness of famous characters from “Paramount Studios” movies.

Such as: 「ヒックとドラゴン」 (“How To Train Your Dragon”), 「シュレック」 (“Shrek”), 「マダガスカル」 (“Magadascar”), 「モンスターVSエイリアン」 (“Monsters vs Aliens”), 「トランスフォーマー」 (“Transformers”), “Top Gun”, 「サタデー・ナイト・フィーバー」 (“Saturday Night Fever”), 「フラッシュダンス」 (“Flashdance”), 「ビバリーヒルズ・コップ」　(“Beverly Hills Cop”), 「レッド・オクトーバーを追え!」 (“The Hunt For Red October”) and “The Godfather”.

Ad for "Pepsi NEX" / Paramount Japan Be@rbricks

Suntory

7-11 Japan and the department store chain that owns it, 「イトーヨーカドー」 (Ito-Yokado) are selling Suntory 「ゴールド・ブルー」 (“Gold Brew“) 発泡酒 (low-malt beer) for only ¥100 (about US$1.00) per 350ml can.

So I bought a case of them from 「イトーヨーカドー」 (Ito-Yokado). ¥100 / can X 24 cans = ¥2,400 (about US$24). A pretty good price, and the beer tastes good too!
350ml cans are a bit small though…I usually buy a case of the 500ml “tall boys”.

I know Suntory is a beverage company that makes beer, whiskey and some soft drinks…but did you know that they own Pepsi Japan and Gatorade Japan too?

Gatorade Sports Drink is originally a Florida* company? (*I grew up in Florida, USA).

Gatorade was created by the University Of Florida. Initially it was created for the University of Florida‘s football team…the “Gators“. Hence the name, “Gatorade“.

The only reason I know this is because my sister graduated from the University of Florida.

I wonder if other U.S. college football teams drink Gatorade and if they know it’s a “Florida Gators” drink?

In Japan, beer brewers release seasonal beers…ie: brews for the Summer, Spring, Autumn, and Winter.
On August 25, Suntory will begin selling their 2009 Autumn beer, called 「秋生」 (“Autumn Draft“).
It contains 6.5% alcohol.

Coke and Pepsi Japan

Coca-Cola ® (“Coke“) and Pepsi-Cola ® (“Pepsi“) in Japan often sell flavors of their colas that are unique to Japan.

Maybe they offer unique cola flavors in your country, too. (Please tell me about them in the comments section.)

For example, stores in Japan have sold: “Coca-Cola Zero“, “Cherry Coke“, “Pepsi Blue Hawaii“, “Pepsi NEX“, “Pepsi Red“, “Pepsi White“…and “Pepsi Ice Cucumber“!

"Pepsi Ice Cucumber"

Well, on Monday (2009 June 8), Coca-Cola Japan will begin selling their newest flavor in Japan:

“Green Tea flavor Coca-Cola Plus“. The bottle says that it contains 「カテキン」 (“Catechins”…which are a compound of tea that is good for people’s health).

Green Tea Coke

To compete with this, later this month on ６月２３日（火） (Tuesday, June 23) Pepsi Japan will be selling:

「ペプシしそ」 (“Pepsi Shiso“).

"Pepsi Shiso (Japanese refreshing flavor) goes on sale all over Japan on Tuesday, 2009 June 23."

「シソ」 (Shiso) is a Japanese herb. I eat Shiso in many foods…but I never imagined a Shiso-flavored cola!

シソ (Shiso)...the Japanese herb.

Pepsi Shiso

I don’t drink cola very often…occasionally I’ll be in the mood to drink a cola—and then I normally buy a normal Coke ®. I did buy the Green Tea Coke just to try it…I wasn’t impressed—it just tasted like Diet Coke (which I dislike).
I’ll probably try the Pepsi Shiso too…just for the novelty value.