Japan is a country with rich history and culture, yet still has a strong modern touch. One of the most popular drinks in Japan is Sake, which was first brewed in 8th century AD. With many different varieties of this drink to try, it’s no wonder that there are so many other popular drinks as well.
The Japanese have a wide variety of drinks to choose from. They are unique in their own way and come with many flavors. This article will provide you with information about Japanese drinks so that you can broaden your horizons when it comes to the world of Japanese cuisine.
From tea to coffee, Coca-Cola to beer – here are some of the most popular Japanese drinks you can find!
Sake
Sake is a Japanese alcoholic beverage brewed from rice. It is an important part of Japanese culture and has been for nearly 1000 years. It was first brewed in 8th century AD and it’s still being enjoyed to this day.
There are many different types of Sake, which means there are also many different tastes to enjoy! From sweet to dry or strong to light, you can find your favorite flavor with the help of the vast variety of Sakes available today.
Sake can be found at bars, restaurants, supermarkets, liquor stores – anywhere you might go for a beverage break! The Japanese have taken their love for Sake all over the world and it’s one of their most popular drinks because it has such an interesting taste. People often say “Kanpai” before drinking – it’s more of a tradition than anything else.
Matcha
Matcha is a finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea leaves. The whole leaf is stone-ground, then it’s kneaded into a thick paste with water and then finally dried to create Matcha powder.
Matcha comes in two varieties: ceremonial and culinary. Ceremonial Matcha is used mainly as a kind of incense at the Zen Buddhist ceremony; it may be whisked into hot water for use as an herbal drink or added to food such as sweet confections or rice balls (mochi).
Culinary Matcha also called “Culinary Grade” Matcha can be eaten alone, with sugar, honey or milk added; it can be baked into cakes; blended into drinks like smoothies, julies and lattes; or whisked with oil into salad dressings.
Ocha
Ocha is the Japanese word for green tea and it’s Japan’s second largest drink after Sake. The Japanese consume more than 2.5 million tons of Ocha each year – that’s almost 3 times as much as the British drink annually!
Ocha is very healthy and japan has always been interested in keeping its people healthy (and beautiful!). It contains caffeine but less than coffee, which means you can drink it all day long without getting too hyper or restless.
You can find coffee shops everywhere in japan; however, if you go into an average household, you will most likely see a teapot with a few cups next to a kettle. The Japanese like to enjoy their Ocha any time, anywhere and they would rather make it themselves than buy it from a coffee shop.
Canned Coffee
There are many different types of drinks available in Japan. One of the most popular is canned coffee, which has been around since the 1880s.
Canned coffee was first invented by a Japanese company called Suntory and it’s still one of their top products today. The drink became very popular because people could easily enjoy this beverage anywhere they wanted – that meant no need to boil water or use electricity!
It can be found at convenience stores, supermarkets, vending machines – all over Japan! Canned coffee is loved by many because it comes with just as much taste as any other type of hot beverage but without being so strong-tasting like black tea or espresso. This allows for more variety when drinking beverages in general!
Coca-Cola
The Japanese love their Coca-Cola. It’s one of the most popular drinks in Japan, and is enjoyed by people of all ages. The Japanese drink more than 2.5 million tons of Coca-Cola each year!
Coca-Cola was first introduced to Japan in 1919 through an American businessman named Thomas J. Spencer who set up a franchise for the product there. His business became quite successful – after just two years he had sold over 350,000 cases of Coke!
The company has changed hands many times since then; today it’s owned by The Coca-Cola Company which is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia (USA). They distribute products like Sprite, Fanta and Powerade as well as other soft drinks to Japan.
Soy Milk
Soy Milk is a type of milk that’s been made from soybeans. It can come as a liquid, as a powder, or as a concentrate.
Soymilk has been used for centuries in East Asian countries, and it was first introduced to America in the early 1900s by Japanese immigrants who were looking for an alternative to cow’s milk because they believed it caused tuberculosis.
Today soy milk is popular among vegetarians and vegans because it provides protein without cholesterol or saturated fats found in animal products like eggs and meat. Soy also contains vitamin D, calcium, potassium and fiber which are all essential nutrients for good health.
One downside of soy milk is that many people find its taste to be somewhat bland; however, the taste has been steadily improving over the years due to modern food technology.
Amazake
Amazake is a Japanese drink made by fermenting rice (usually the sweet, short-grained komachi rice) with water and yeast. It can be considered to be both a fermented food like wine or beer, as well as an alcoholic beverage since it contains about half of the alcohol content of regular sake.
It’s also known for its natural sweetness – without any added sugar! Amazake has been used traditionally in Japan for centuries to balance out salty foods such as soy sauce based dishes and sushi. Many people in Japan believe that amasake aids digestion because it’s naturally rich in enzymes which are good at breaking down proteins into smaller pieces so they’re easier on your stomach lining. The most common way to drink Amazake is to make it into a hot drink, but since it’s also cold and rich in natural sweetness, Japan loves making cocktails out of amazake.
Ramune
Ramune is a carbonated soft drink, often called a soda or pop in the United States. It was first created and sold by an apothecary from Britain or the British pharmacist name Alexander Cameron Sim. in 1884 as a healthy alternative to alcoholic beverages during the Meiji Restoration period when Japan was opening up to Western ideas.
It became popular among children because its bottle could be opened with just one hand, unlike traditional sodas which required two hands for twisting off of their caps. The name Ramune came from “la manne”, French for “the fizz”. In Japanese it’s pronounced ramuné or arumuné (アラムネ).
Ramune can be made out of natural fruit sugars, artificial sweeteners or artificial sugars. It is believed to have a high nutritional value because it contains lots of Vitamins B1 and B2.
The most famous Ramune flavors are: Strawberry, Melon, Peach and Blue Hawaii – which is a blend of pineapple and coconut. The current bestselling flavor in japan is blue Hawaii.
Japanese Coffee
Japan is a country with a rich culture and history. In Japan, there are many traditional Japanese drinks that have been around for centuries. One of the most popular Japanese drinks is called Japanese coffee.
Japanese coffee has been around since the 17th century when it was first introduced to Japan by Catholic missionaries from Portugal and Italy who had learned about coffee in Europe. The word “coffee” comes from the Dutch words – “koffie”(meaning “coffee”) and “kafei” (meaning shop).
In modern-day Japan, you can find different types of coffees such as black coffee, espresso or latte – all served at specialized cafes which are usually found in busy areas like Tokyo’s Shibuya district.
Shochu
Japan has many amazing drinks, but shochu is one of Japanese favorite.
Shochu is an alcoholic beverage that Japanese people enjoy drinking in the summer or winter seasons because it’s easy to make and tastes great!
It can be made from any type of grain, but most often Japanese’s use rice because it’s very cheap and produces a high yield. The process starts with steaming the rice until all the water evaporates which turns the grains into starch – then they are mashed up using water at a temperature below boiling point. This releases enzymes which turn them into sugars – when this mixture is left alone, yeast will grow on top of it over time transforming those sugars into alcohol.
Yakult
Yakult is a probiotic drink that was first made in Japan. Yakult is sold globally, but it’s still most popular in Japan. It’s Healthier than ever to be your best self with this great tasting. It contains billions of good bacteria called Lactobacillus casei Shirota which japan’s founder, Shirota discovered in 1935.
This drink will help you stay healthy in more ways than one because not only does it taste good but Yakult also has been shown time after time as being effective at improving gut health when taken regularly for two weeks or longer. It also has 10 billion live bacteria per serving which can help with digestion and boost your immune system!
Aojiru
Aojiru is a japanese green drink that’s also titled “the Japanese super drink.” Aojiru greens are harvested, blended together and then concentrated down to an extract. It’s great for weight loss because it contains powerful ingredients that increase metabolism.
It has high levels of chlorophyll, minerals, vitamins, flavonoids, amino acids and enzymes which all work together to improve the body’s natural abilities. Drinking this everyday can help you lose up to 10 pounds in just one month!
Calpis
Calpis is a Japanese drink that tastes like milk and soda combined together. It’s also known as Calpico in the US and comes from Japan where it was invented in 1872 by Kotobukiya Factory. The company had been japanese coca-cola bottler – so this drink must have been popular with people who wanted something different than Coke!
Calpis has a very sweet taste which makes it perfect for kids because they don’t need to add any additional sugar or syrup to make it taste good. Calpis can be found at many grocery stores, restaurants and convenience stores all over Japan but you might not find it outside of Asia unless you go on an adventure looking for one!
Umeshu
Umeshu is the Japanese version of plum wine. It’s made by steeping ume (Japanese apricots) in shochu for a few months, then adding sugar and letting it ferment. The result is a light-colored drink with 15% alcohol content.
Umeshu has been made in Japan since the Edo period (1603–1868). Its name means “plum wine,” but there are no plums involved; umekawa means “apricot tree” or “plum tree.” Umeshu was originally popular among Buddhist monks, who drank it to help them stay awake during long periods of prayer and meditation on cold winter nights without feeling the cold.
Awamori
Awamori is Japanese drink from the country of Okinawa. It is made from grains and distilled – and it certainly tastes different than Japanese sake. Some people even compare it to Korea’s liquor!
It has a very strong aroma that westerners love or hate because they either understand the aromas or don’t like them at all! Many people who drink Awamori say it reminds them of whisky but some also say its taste resembles vodka. This Japanese spirit is definitely for those who can handle their drinks well.
Final Words
Japanese people are some of the healthiest people in the world because they eat healthy, exercise often and drink juice to keep them active. From Calpis to Yakult, many of Japanese drinks have been on top for decades – but even more have emerged with time.
If you’re looking for a way to introduce more Japanese food into your life without actually eating it, try some of these beverages! They taste great, are made from all-natural ingredients and might just give you an excuse to not go home after work!
I hope that this article was helpful in getting people to learn about 15 popular Japanese drinks. Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to leave comment!
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