Acerola berries on the bush.
In the summer of 2007, the Japanese summer drink market was dominated by acai berry drinks. This year, it is acerola, also known as “Barbados cherries.”
Acerola, a berry native to the Caribbean, is high in natural vitamin C to boast the immune system, and bioflavonoids, natural pigments which have only recently been understood to have health benefits such as improving circulation and acting as a natural antibiotic.
Nichirei released a drink containing 4% acerola juice in water in the spring, and has since followed up with a much smaller and stronger drink of 70% acerola extract with supplemental vitamins and minerals. This 100 milliliter drink is positioned as something closer to an over-the-counter medicine to ward off summer colds, rather than a drink to quench thirst.
Three acerola drinks from Nichirei in varrying sizes and strength.
Other drinks mixing acerola with fruit juice, water, or tea have been launched, and acerola extract has also been popping up in chewing gum and candies. All this makes acerola look like the flavor fad for this summer – but Japanese consumers’ obsession with ingredients that benefit health could turn acerola into a standard ingredient with much longer staying power.
An acerola and lemon drink from Meiji.
Learn more:
Other Meiji products
Other Nichirei products
Meiji official homepage (Japanese)
Nichirei official homepage (Japanese)