U R Sacked! [Haitai | ??? Bonbon]

This stubby sized can is one I keep going back to. I haven't it had for a long while, but now I remember why I like it so much. If you've gone looking to buy grape juice, you'll probably have noticed that you can usually only buy red grape juice. In fact I've never seen white/green grape juice for sale in Australia, except for the above.

Now plain grape juice you might say, okay what's so good about it? Well, firstly, this ain't no ordinary plain grape juice. Second having made my own "grape juice" as a kid from white/green grapes that I squashed in my mouth, you'll understand that I have a thing for white/green grape juice.

The thing that makes this grape juice so special is the fact that there are actually whole peeled seedless grapes inside the can! Which are juicy and tasty and totally complement the drink. Each can contains at my reckoning just under a dozen grapes, more than enough to satisfy, although a word of caution, don't drink this on an empty stomach.According to the english version of the Haitai website, "Fruit Drink with Sac(Contains Fruit Sac)" .. and that's about all the information I could gather as there's no english on the can. However there is a handy importer's label which says, "Haitai Podo Bonbon" and "DO NOT RETAIL BY INDIVIDUAL CAN". I bought mine individually.

The grape sac with fruit sac drink sac, is a tasty and refreshing sac with sacs that you can individually sac into your mouth sac! If you don't want to be potentially put off this drink, don't click here.
Taste (8)

Weirdness (6.5 sacs)

Satisfaction (8)

Review 2 [Lotte | Let's Be Mild]

See previous review of same product posted by dorkinu.

This chilled milk coffee beverage is cheaper and better than the Starbuck's Frappuccino that they sell everywhere in the glass bottles even though it is imported.

I'm beginning to realize that Lotteness is next to Godliness. It's mild coffee flavor is both crisp and refreshing. Coffee doesn't always have to be an event. With Let's Be Mild, it can be a quick fix.

If you're a Starbucks-head, you will probably doubt me thinking I'm an Asia bevo freak. After all, you have this site to back up your claim. In a last ditch support of my case, I present you with a quote from the bottle:

Ultimately tasting is comparing.

Lotte is a major company with many products beyond just drinks. To find the product page for this product would be nearly impossible, but if you have faith in your Korean, I dare you to try. In fact, if you find it, I will presonally mail you a hand-written thank you card.

Here's a little Lotte trival for you: The name of the company comes from a character in a German novel.

Taste (8)

Weirdness (4) (for the name)

Satisfaction (8)

コーヒー買える? [Suntory | BOSS COFFEE - Super Blend]

This is probably my favourite brand of coffee in can. Super Blend is a great coffee, full strength black with just a touch of sugar. Although I do prefer a dash of milk too, (I'll hopefully track down a BOSS Cafe au Lait at some point to review).

In the meantime, sit back kick up your feet and enjoy a soothing koohii (coffee) experience. This mighty little can delivers the caffeine hit you desperately require, there's no messing about. The coffee is full flavoured and rich and is probably about as good as coffee gets straight from a can.

The can features a prominent logo of a refined gentlemen smoking a pipe, the look in his eyes is that of a man who's taken charge of his life and succeeded, the Boss. He's done the hard yards and deserves his Super Blend coffee.


As asianbev mentioned before, coffee wars in j-land are as fierce as cola wars in the US and elsewhere, so it's good to know which one to get. BOSS coffee is brewed by Suntory of Japan who have a reputation for quality liquor as well. You may have spotted Bill Murray doing a stint for Suntory in the film "Lost in Translation". There's a clip over at dorinkuTV, hover over the video player and select it from the playlist scrolling at the bottom, there's also a BOSS Coffee TV Ad for your enjoyment.

Suntory offer a range of different coffees and I hope to take a look at some of the others in the future.

http://www.suntoryboss.com/

Taste (9)

Weirdness (2)

Satisfaction (9)

Perfume Water [LOTTE | 2% - Peach]

2% flavour is probably what they're talking about, and at first glance that might sound like not much. But the subtle flavours and aroma of this product are quite exceptional.

It's more or less a perfumed water and would most likely appeal to the feminine variety of humans. However, it's a highly refreshing beverage, and the mild peach flavour is very tasty. I also like the design of the bottle, it's quite uplifting.

It's not the sort of drink you would probably have a great deal of, but for a special treat for a girl on a hot day, this is it. So go on, spoil yourself with 2% goodness.

Here's what the folks over at LOTTE have to say about it:

"For consumers being fed up with pure water, fruit juice and aroma are added to pure water. The item name 2% means that lack of 2% water in body makes people feel thirsty, which have to be quenched by the 2% near water. 2% is the main brand in near water market sharing over 90% in Korea.This kind of near water is also very popular in Japan and Korea, needless to say U.S.A." YOW!!

"LOTTE - More than Life"

Taste (6.5)

Weirdness (2%)

Satisfaction (8)

[Lotte | Orange Milkis]

This is the orange flavored Milkis. I have reviewed the original flavor in a previous post. I was able to find this flavor in a 6-pack at the local Lotte Market.

The immediate taste of the orange flavor is sweet and is reminiscent of a Creamsicle. It's light carbonation, well, for lack of a better phrase, is really good! My only serious issue is at the end of each can - the last few sips are full of gross gooey clumps. I really don't know how this is excusable. Can you imagine keeping yourself calm and collected if your last few sips of Pepsi were full of gross gooey clumps?


Taste (9)

Weirdness (3)

Satisfaction (7)

[Pokka | Milk Coffee]

Pokka Milk Coffee

Japanese canned coffee sales is a market as fierce an competitive as cola sales in the US. Pokka is one of the front runners. I've always liked Japanese milk coffee (as milk teat). I was draw to this particular can for its graphic. The background features 10 young professional people - possibly prep school or young college students. The head of an 11th figure is displayed predominately in the foreground with a tilted head and smile of cocky confidence. Does this mean he's had is "Real brewed" Pokka milk tea and ready to make the most of his day-to-day lifestyle? I'll go to their product website and see if I can find out anything else. No - all I was able to verify was the can I was drinking is the kind they sell in Japan and not the kind manufactured for import sales. As far as its taste - it tastes just like you'd imagine.

Taste (6)
Weirdness (2)

[??? | Assam Milk Tea]

The only English on this can is:

• Assam Milk Tea
• Expiry Date: Two Years

Other than that, I only have the graphic to go off of: Two guys with big black beards, Greek togas, and winter caps pedal bicycles with giant front wheels toward a windmill.

Its a pretty tasty strong black tea mellowed by milk and a subtle rice flavor.

Taste (6)
Weirdness (4)

[??? | VitaLove]

At the store there was a sign by this drink that said "VitaLove." It is a solid white liquid in a white bottle with a drawing of a girl with crazy hair.

It tastes exactly like extra sugary melted vanilia ice cream.

Taste (7)
Weirdness (5)

[??? | Green Tea]

This is just green tea in a crazy bottle. The bottle is a non-stop party. An excited girl dares you to try the drink on the front as you can see in the picture. What I did not picture is the back of the bottle where the number "4999" is printed and there is a drawing of a CD with a signature written across it. This is not a premium green tea by any means. Even manufacturers in the states occasionally do it better than this. It is heaps and bounds better than Lipton, Nestea, and Snapple, however; and mixed with a little of the Honey and Ginseng drink reviewed above, it becomes something really special.

Taste (5)
Weirdness (3)

[Cadbury-Schweppes | Lemon Lime Solo]

Now onto something a little more familiar. Solo is the most popular soda beverage in Australia after Coke and Pepsi. It is made by Cadbury-Schweppes and in some ways, you could say it is the Mountain Dew of Australia. The Lemon-Lime flavor is pictured, but the plain lemon flavor is far more popular. I guess you could say its carbonated Lemonade.

Cultural conflict: What Americans call Lemonade is the same thing that the Australians call lemon drink. What the Australians call Lemonade is what an American would call water with lemon.

Taste (5)
Weirdness (1)

[Kirin | Lemon Ice]

Kirin is a Japanese beverage company most known for its popular beer. I sampled their soft drink called Lemon Ice. It was very light; its tea and lemon flavors were both very modest. It was most similar to Vitamin Water in the US (or Nutrient Water as it is known in Australia.) This however is slightly more potent than the flavored waters, tastes better, and therefore should not be classified as such.

Taste (6)
Weirdness (3)

[Sangaria | Miracle Body V]

Miracle Body V tastes exactly like Red Bull, so its got to be an energy drink with similar ingredients.
This product is manufactured by Sangaria, the Japanese company that also makes the popular Ramune (Sprite/Skittles-tasting drink with a glass marble).

Taste (4)
Weirdness (3)