Salty Watermelon

I have written posts about some of the unique, only-in-Japan flavors that Pepsi-Cola (and other companies including Kit-Kat and Coca-Cola) here.

If you want to see those posts, enter “Pepsi” in my blog’s Search box (or click here).

Well, watermelon is very popular in Japan in the summertime. And some people put salt on their watermelon to enhance it’s natural taste.
I tell you that in order to help you understand Pepsi Japan‘s latest flavor…

「塩スイカ」 (“Salty Watermelon”).

Pepsi 「塩スイカ」 (“Salty Watermelon”)…only in Japan

Pepsi’s 「塩スイカ」 (“Salty Watermelon”) is scheduled to go on sale in Japan beginning 2012 July 24th.

New Pepsi Star Wars collectables

A little over three years ago Pepsi Japan, in collaboration with Be@rbrick, gave away Star Wars toys with purchase of Pepsi NEX.
I wrote a post about that campaign…click here to read it.

That campaign was to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of the first Star Wars movie in Japan.

Well, in about two weeks the new Star Wars 3-D movie will be in theaters in Japan.
In honor of that, Pepsi Japan is once again giving away Star Wars character toys with the purchase of Pepsi NEX.
This time the toys are made by Panson Works.

Pink Pepsi

I have written posts a few times before about some of the unusual “only-in-Japan” flavors of Pepsi and Kit-Kats that are often sold here.

Well, the latest Pepsi flavor is 「ペプシ・ピンク」 (“Pepsi　Pink“).

It’s strawberry and milk flavored! I have no interest in trying this…but my daughters have tried it and they said they liked it.

Does Pepsi sell anything like this in your country? Would you buy it?

Caribbean Gold

Pepsi-Cola in Japan often releases temporary, original “only-in-Japan”. I have written posts about some of them, for example:

Pepsi-Dry,
Mont Blanc,
Baobab,
Pepsi Azuki,
Pepsi Shiso, and
Ice Cucumber.

Well, now Pepsi Japan‘s newest flavor is “Caribbean Gold“.

Pepsi Japan's "Caribbean Gold"

Have you tried any of the Pepsi flavors in Japan? Does Pepsi or Coca-Cola offer unique flavors in your country?

Mont Blanc in Japan

Do you know Mont Blanc?
It’s the French name of the highest mountain in the European Alps. “Mont Blanc” means “White Mountain”.

Mont Blanc

Did you know that there is a pastry dessert in France called “Mont Blanc“?
This dessert is extremely popular in Japan. It suits Japanese people’s tastes.
In Japan, the dessert is called 「モンブラン」 (“Mon-Blan“), which is probably the way it pronounced in French.

Have you ever tried a 「モンブラン」 (“Mon-Blan“) pastry? It’s a cake made from chestnuts with a whipped cream topping and usually has chestnuts on top. It’s pretty good.

「モンブラン」 ("Mon-Blan") dessert

Well, now Pepsi Japan has another new flavor…「モンブラン」 (“Mon-Blan“). It supposedly tastes similar to the dessert.

Pepsi Japan's newest flavor...「モンブラン」 ("Mont Blanc")

In Japan, Pepsi Cola often releases unusual cola flavors (occasionally Coca-Cola Japan does too).
Click here to read my post about other Pepsi flavors in Japan.

Pepsi Samurai

Pepsi-Cola Japan is has a new campaign.

Last summer, they gave away Snoopy cell-phone straps with bottles of Pepsi NEX.
Click here to read my post about that.

Now they are giving away Samurai cell-phone straps (well, one of them is Matthew Perry. Click here to read what I wrote about him.)

If you buy a bottle of Pepsi‘s “zero calorie” NEX cola at a convenience store or supermarket in Japan during this campaign period, it will come with a Samurai cell-phone strap.

(click to enlarge)

Personally, I don’t drink much cola…and I never drink “zero calorie” or diet drinks (they taste terrible).
Also, although I think 「侍」 (samurai) are cool, I don’t really need any more cell-phone straps (I have one on my phone that looks like a skull and I’m happy with it).

How about you? Would you buy this? Do you like “zero calorie” Pepsi?
What type of cell-phone strap do you have? (Does your country have straps on the phones like in Japan?)

ペプシあずき

I wrote a post before about Coca-Cola and Pepsi in Japan offering unusual flavors such as “Green Tea Coke”, “Cucumber Pepsi”, and “Shiso Pepsi”.
(Click here to read that post).

Pepsi Japan will be offering their latest flavor starting on Tuesday, 20 October (2009)….「ペプシあずき」 (“Pepsi Azuki“).

Pepsi Japan's ad for "Pepsi Azuki". On sale (in Japan) starting 20 October (2009) for a limited time.

The ad says 「和風コーラ・新登場」 (“Japanese style cola. A new appearance.”).

「小豆」 (Azuki) is a popular red bean in Japan that is often eaten in a sweetened paste form.
It’s quite good. But, though I like Shiso, I didn’t think much of Shiso Pepsi…so I have my doubts about “Pepsi Azuki“.

Pepsi and Snoopy

In Japan, keychain accessories aren’t popular. But ケータイ電話のアクセサリー (cellular phone accessories) are. Especially cell-phone straps.

In your country, are cell-phone straps popular?

Last Spring, ペプシ (Pepsi Japan) gave away Snoopy cell-phone straps with purchases of 500ml bottles of Pepsi NEX.

The straps were Snoopy with 「全国おいしいものアクセサリー」 (“All of Japan Delicious Foods“). They featured Snoopy resting on food items from 24 different areas of Japan.

Tokyo’s was the best! It has Snoopy resting on 江戸前寿司 (Old Tokyo Sushi). Osaka’s was Snoopy with たこ焼き (Octopus Dumpling).

These were given away with Pepsi NEX for a limited-time only and aren’t available anymore.

But now they’re offering Snoopy with 「全国おいしいものアクセサリー第２段」 (“All of Japan Delicious Foods…Second Version“) with purchases of 500ml bottles of Pepsi NEX.

This version doesn’t include a strap for Tokyo nor Hokkaido. But there is one for 横浜中華街 (Yokohama Chinatown)…「中華まん」 (“Chinese Steamed Meat-filled Bun“).

New drinks

I wrote about Pepsi Japan‘s new drink that they started selling this week called Pepsi Shiso.
(Click here to read it).

I decided to buy a bottle of it today to try it just for the novelty value.

"Pepsi Shiso" on the convenience store shelf.

I know what シソ (Shiso), the Japanese herb, tastes like. We actually have some growing in my wife’s garden right now.
I like it fine…but the idea of “Shiso flavored cola” seemed very odd to me.

I was right. Pepsi Shiso smells and tastes alot like the herb. As I said, I think Shiso is good…as an herb. But in a cola, I found it unappealing.

I took a couple sips to try it, and gave the rest of the drink to my kids. Even they found it “mediocre”.

I guess we won’t be buying Pepsi Shiso again.

After trying the Pepsi Shiso, I opened my favorite drink…an ice cold beer! (Actually a 発泡酒 (Low-malt beer), which is just as good to me).

Yesterday, I bought a case of Kirin Beer‘s newest offering: 「コクの時間」 (I would’ve translated it as “Wonderful Time“…but it says on the can “Golden Moments“).

Regardless, the beer was much better than the herb cola! (Actually, a cold beer is better than any other drink! 🙂 )

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.