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

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“.

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.