Taste Test

A Public Service Announcement.





I'm always willing to try new things here in Japan. Yes, I'm serious. And don't call me Voltaire. Sometimes, things like uni sushi are a pleasant surprise. Beverages, however, are another matter. I snapped a pic of some recently consumed beverages. So this post is a review of said beverages from left to right (click to get a better view):

First up: Yakult. Its a yogurt drink, and a little bit sweet, but it is not thick. The relative size of the bottle is an indication that you shouldn't want to drink a lot of it. There's barely a swallow in the little plastic bottle. Verdict: one thumb up.

Ready to drink coffee in a can: Roots. Its actually called 'Product' and it is probably made by L'Oreal. Although the picture doesn't show it, the bottom reads, "A Product for an energetic break and enjoyable life." I prefer my fortunes in a cookie, thank you very much. It looks like chocolate milk. Verdict: two thumbs down.

Cocoa Cola: it tastes like regular soda. Hard to find. Verdict: two thumbs up.

Pocari Sweat: Don't let the name fool you. This actually tastes like someone bottled the perspiration that occurs when placed in an uncomfortable social situation. Well, err, like I imagine the perspiration that occurs when placed in an uncomfortable social situation would taste like if someone were to bottle it. The color is milky white. Verdict: amputate my thumbs, please.

Calpis Soda: another milky white beverage with another unlikely name, this one is sweet and carbonated. I prefer soda that doesn't look like 1% milk. Verdict: one thumb up - for the name.

Asahi aqua blue beer: I was thinking about LaBatt's Blue when I saw this in the store. Disappointing because it tastes like Schlitz Light. And I don't think they make Schlitz Light any more. Verdict: no thumbs up.

Green Tea: At least I think it is green tea. My feeling is that green tea should, you know, look green. The plastic wrapping, which is green, tastes better than the beverage, which is unsweetened. At least it doesn't have that milky look that many of these beverages have. Verdict: two thumbs down.

Acerola: It tries hard to provide you with a cherry taste, but it has that milky look of Calpis. Should have a picture of Acerofspades, if you know what I mean, and I think you do. Verdict: two thumbs down.

C.C. Lemon: this bottle has the most English words on the bottle of any beverage I have seen here in Japan. It proudly states that it has "The vitamin C level of 210 lemons in the bottle." This all leads me to believe that it is being marketed to Americans and not Japanese. I do not like being manipulated by such advertising. Verdict: 210 thumbs up.

Natural Mineral Water: This was the cheapest bottled water I could find in the store and it was sitting right next to Perrier. I think I was the only one to buy it. It tastes like water. On a lark, I tried comparing it to tap water. Of course, I cheated a little bit; the bottled water was colder so I could tell the difference. Verdict: two thumbs up.

I'm collecting a whole new set of bottles & cans and will provide another public service announcement soon.