This yogurt-banana mash-up surfs in on the enduring popularity of the local favorite soft drink, Calpis, which inexplicably established sweetened sour milk as a delightful flavor in Japan.
Peach Coke is just a blatant season grab. Here, eating “seasonal” fruits and vegetables delivers wave after wave of short-term binge buying on the part of consumers, and since there is no “cola” season, Coke wanted to cash in on that.
And aloe, eek. How many times have Japanese friends vehemently assured me that slimy foods are essential for health? I supposed that number is about the same number of times I’ve weaseled out of eating stinky fermented soybeans and the hair-in-slime seaweed known as mozuku.
•
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Last Tea Bowl Thief was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon
“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist
•
Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Only In Japan 
I actually like Calpis and aloe drinks! But I wouldn’t want anything mixed with banana flavors.
I actually did end up trying the aloe drink, and it wasn’t as icky as I thought it would be. Sort of pleasantly sweet and not TOO goopy. Calpis, though…all yours! ^^;;