A catchy mish-mash of the words “shochu” and “highball,” chuhai or chuhi is a staple at izakayas across Japan, combining the earthy, distilled spirit shochu (which is typically made from barley, rice, or sweet potato and has roughly 25% ABV) with fruity-flavored, carbonated soda water. Whipped up either fresh — cocktail-style — on-site for thirsty imbibers or prepackaged in cans and sold out of vending machines, chuhai’s relatively low price point, bubbly charm and low-to-middling ABV (anywhere between 2-9%) has made it a favorite for penny-pinching session drinkers looking to pace themselves over the course of an evening.
Chuhai is also highly diverse and customizable to almost any taste — so long as you enjoy a sweeter beverage — with flavors ranging from classics like lemon and grapefruit to ume (salty plum) and cherry blossom. Simple enough to make on the fly and easily batched (even in their non-can form), chuhai might just be the perfect cocktail for helping loll away an afternoon of day drinking.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/cheers-coca-cola-launches-its-first-alcoholic-drink-1527327137
Canned drinks known as chuhai have long been popular in Japan. They are often made with a distilled grain-based alcohol called shochu and carbonated water flavored with fruit juice or other flavorings.
Coca-Cola, a big competitor in nonalcoholic drinks in Japan, is entering the playing field with a lemon-flavored version of chuhai called Lemon-Do. It will be available with 3%, 5% and 7% alcohol, including a salty-lemon version and another that is flavored with honey and lemon. The drink doesn’t include any Coke.
Despite falling demand overall for alcoholic drinks in Japan owing to the country’s shrinking population, demand for canned booze has been growing, in part because it is taxed less than beer and is cheaper. Most chuhai drinks are priced at roughly ¥200, or about $1.80, a can. Coca-Cola’s newest offerings will retail for ¥162, including tax.
Mr. Tsukano, the financial planner, said he buys beer and chuhai for himself and his wife once or twice a week, as many as three cans at a time. He said he likes to chase two cans of beer with a can of chuhai. “First I am going to ask my wife if she likes this, then we will buy it,” he said.
The chuhai market is seen as a growth area because it appeals to both men and women.
Coca-Cola is casting a wide net in trying to capture female drinkers, offering lower-alcohol options alongside the stiffer 7% variation. Recently, chuhai drinks with high alcohol content have been growing quickly.
*** I should send a resume!
Chuhai is also highly diverse and customizable to almost any taste — so long as you enjoy a sweeter beverage — with flavors ranging from classics like lemon and grapefruit to ume (salty plum) and cherry blossom. Simple enough to make on the fly and easily batched (even in their non-can form), chuhai might just be the perfect cocktail for helping loll away an afternoon of day drinking.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/cheers-coca-cola-launches-its-first-alcoholic-drink-1527327137
Canned drinks known as chuhai have long been popular in Japan. They are often made with a distilled grain-based alcohol called shochu and carbonated water flavored with fruit juice or other flavorings.
Coca-Cola, a big competitor in nonalcoholic drinks in Japan, is entering the playing field with a lemon-flavored version of chuhai called Lemon-Do. It will be available with 3%, 5% and 7% alcohol, including a salty-lemon version and another that is flavored with honey and lemon. The drink doesn’t include any Coke.
Despite falling demand overall for alcoholic drinks in Japan owing to the country’s shrinking population, demand for canned booze has been growing, in part because it is taxed less than beer and is cheaper. Most chuhai drinks are priced at roughly ¥200, or about $1.80, a can. Coca-Cola’s newest offerings will retail for ¥162, including tax.
Mr. Tsukano, the financial planner, said he buys beer and chuhai for himself and his wife once or twice a week, as many as three cans at a time. He said he likes to chase two cans of beer with a can of chuhai. “First I am going to ask my wife if she likes this, then we will buy it,” he said.
The chuhai market is seen as a growth area because it appeals to both men and women.
Coca-Cola is casting a wide net in trying to capture female drinkers, offering lower-alcohol options alongside the stiffer 7% variation. Recently, chuhai drinks with high alcohol content have been growing quickly.
*** I should send a resume!
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