Knowing that classic soda beverages pair well with all-American foods like hot dogs and hamburgers, the Kimura Drink Company set out to create Japanese drinks that would match equally as well with traditional dishes from Asia.
Naturally, there are two ingredients with a long history of being served alongside white rice dishes in Japan: umeboshi (pickled plums) and takuan (pickled daikon white radish). This experiment resulted in the creation of two unconventional new soda products: Umeboshi Pickled Plum Cola and Takuan Pickled Radish Cola. The new soda beverages have sweet, sour and salty notes, which would make them interesting companions for a rice-based meal.
Previously, the Kimura Drink Company made headlines by releasing an eel-flavoured cola.
Pickled Cola Beverages
These Unique Japanese Drinks are Meant to Be Served with Rice Dishes
Trend Themes
1. Pickled Cola - The fusion of unique flavors suggessst an opportunity of fusion in the beverage industry.
2. Flavored Cola - The trend of creating people's unique tastes into fizzy drinks suggest an opportunity for customer segmentations in the beverage industry.
3. Unconventional Soft Drinks - The creation of non-conventional and culturally inspired beverages suggest a potential in catering to niche consumer audiences.
Industry Implications
1. Beverage Industry - Innovation in the soda industry is underexplored, and there is vast space to explore ingredients that enhance versatile food palettes.
2. Asian Food Industry - There is an opportunity to explore food and drink pairings, particularly with respect to conventional asian dishes.
3. Cultural Food Industry - There is potential in creating unique and non-conventional food products that incorporate elements of other genres or ethnicities.