Posted on 06/13/2007 1:12:42 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan
TOKYO - Japanese are staying cool as a cucumber this summer with "Pepsi Ice Cucumber" a new soda based on the crisp green gourd.
The soft drink, which hit stores here on Tuesday, doesn't actually have any cucumber in it but has been artificially flavored to resemble "the refreshing taste of a fresh cucumber," said Aya Takemoto, spokeswoman of Japan's Pepsi distributor, Suntory Ltd.
"We wanted a flavor that makes people think of keeping cool in the summer heat," Takemoto said. "We thought the cucumber was just perfect."
The mint-colored soda is on sale just for the summer and only in Japan, Takemoto said. She said initial sales were brisk, and Suntory aims to sell 200,000 cases over the next three months.
Pepsi trails behind industry leaders Coca Cola (Japan) Company, with about 15 percent of the Japanese cola market, and also faces stiff competition from non-fizzy bottled drinks like green tea and coffee, which are popular here.
Suntory said it sold 20.5 million cases of Pepsi brand drinks in 2006, including its popular Pepsi NEX zero-calorie soda.
Ick.
Meanwhile I'm still waiting for trout-flavored coffee.
Blech.
MMM...sounds delicious.
Cucumber tastes like water and chlorophyl.
I dream of the day when garden slug bubble gum hits the shelves.
Wonder if it produces the same level of burps that real cucumbers produce
Have you ever tried Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray?
ROTFL
That beats my idea for kung pao ice cream.
“In your local vending machine, right next to the panties.”
And, no, I’m not joking.
It’s Japan.
If you’ve ever been to the Coca-Cola museum in Atlanta you will have seen many bizzare flavors sold around the world.
I’m currently working on a spam flavored drink for Hawaii
Not to be outdone, Coke is going to announce two new products, Diet Coke Zucchini, and Coca-Cola Classic Broccoli.
}:-)4
I’d certainly try it out of curiosity.
Who knows, it might be tasty.
Sushi Ice Cream soon to follow ...
Pralines and Sardines
Mackarel Marble
Tuna Nut
Salmon Swirl
Rainbow Trout Sherbert
It is one of my husband’s favorites....
Blah.
I can’t stand celery soda.
Actually there is a very refreshing iced drink made in the Middle East made of yogurt and cucumbers - it’s really quite good.
Hmm. That might actually be good. Cuccumbers certainly are refreshing.
I’m holding out for Soylent Cola.
Cel-Ray is delicious... Celery actaully has a (IMO very good) taste. Cucumbers however actually taste like nothing... except a certaib “plant” taste.
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