Red Bean Pepsi

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Okay, video time! The new flavour of Pepsi was launched in Japan yesterday. An ambitious Azuki (red-bean) flavour! I called into my local 100 yen Lawsons to pick one up and give it a whirl. My thoughts below ^^.

pepsi_azuki_japan_bottle_main

I’m speaking in Japanese in this video, but I added fresh, English subtitles for your viewing pleasure. Mwahaha. If you spot any mistakes, please tell me! 日本語の間違いなど見つけたら率直に教えてください！よろしくお願いします！

Here you can find out more about Azuki Beans. Basically they are used in a lot of Japanese cooking, particularly sweets and bread. In fact, one of my favourite bread snacks is the ‘Tsubuan’ buns.

azuki_pepsi

つぶあん　＝　lumpy bean paste (the beans have not all been broken down into a fine paste)

In contrast:

こしあん　＝　mashed-up bean paste (no lumps)

Do you have this type of snack at a store near you?

**********

What the heck happened to all the high-quality articles??

To those who are lamenting the recent briefness of posts and lack of high-quality, in-depth articles: Rest assured! I haven’t sold out to quick-fix blogging and headline-grabbing popular news. (Not completely, anyway).

I want to update more frequently than before, but obviously I cannot write lengthy, well-informed posts that often. So in between those in-depth ‘Featured’ articles (which, incidentally, you can find a list of here on the Must Read page of this site), I will be supplementing this website with morsels of juicy Japan-ness. Like Azuki Pepsi and Mario Cakes.

But don’t just sit there and let me preach! What do *you* want to see on Gakuranman.com?

Also, in other news, a substantial re-design will be colliding with gakuranman.com in the near future. Keep those eyes a-peeled!

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Michael Gakuran

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  • http://pmthreads.livejournal.com/ Tiffany Harvey

    Aww, I didn’t see any subtitles?

  • http://pmthreads.livejournal.com/ Tiffany Harvey

    Aww, I didn’t see any subtitles?

  • http://www.rukinet.com/ Rukishou

    Just looking at the bottle (with Pepsi still in it) it looks delicious, but “azuki” (or red bean) doesn’t sound very tasty… :3

  • http://www.yokazeblog.com Rukishou

    Just looking at the bottle (with Pepsi still in it) it looks delicious, but “azuki” (or red bean) doesn’t sound very tasty… :3

  • Philippe P.

    As an enthusiast foodie (and a Frenchman, so it must me somewhat in my genes), there aren’t many kinds of food I would’t try, but those weird soft drinks found in Japan are somewhat freaking me.

    I mean, pocari sweat? WTF? Eww, who would want to drink a peccary’s sweat? And flavouring pepsi with beans? Why would anyone drink those weird, chemical-enhanced stuff why they could drink beer or wine? :-P

  • Philippe P.

    As an enthusiast foodie (and a Frenchman, so it must me somewhat in my genes), there aren’t many kinds of food I would’t try, but those weird soft drinks found in Japan are somewhat freaking me.

    I mean, pocari sweat? WTF? Eww, who would want to drink a peccary’s sweat? And flavouring pepsi with beans? Why would anyone drink those weird, chemical-enhanced stuff why they could drink beer or wine? :-P

  • http://japanesesnackreviews.blogspot.com/ Orchid64

    I didn’t think this was as bad as the Pepsi Shiso, mainly because it tastes of jasmine primarily and red beans secondarily.

    My thoughts are here:
    http://japanesesnackreviews.blogspot.com/2009/10/pepsi-azuki.html

  • http://japanesesnackreviews.blogspot.com/ Orchid64

    I didn’t think this was as bad as the Pepsi Shiso, mainly because it tastes of jasmine primarily and red beans secondarily.

    My thoughts are here:
    http://japanesesnackreviews.blogspot.com/2009/10/pepsi-azuki.html

  • http://gakuranman.com/ Mike

    You can enable subtitles in the Youtube box (somewhere in the bottom right :) )

  • http://gakuranman.com/ Mike

    You can enable subtitles in the Youtube box (somewhere in the bottom right :) )

  • http://riechanster.livejournal.com/ Riechan

    that pocari sweat drink tastes a bit like sprite, just try it ;)
    I would love to try this drink but no asian supermarkets around my place …

  • http://riechanster.livejournal.com/ Riechan

    that pocari sweat drink tastes a bit like sprite, just try it ;)
    I would love to try this drink but no asian supermarkets around my place …

  • http://riechanster.livejournal.com/ Riechan

    on another note,
    I was able to follow most part of the video, without reading the subtitles, hooray !!!!! ^^
    It’s good that you do videos with simple japanese, so people who are learning japanese (like me) can understand them ^^.
    btw you look very funny in the vid :D

  • http://riechanster.livejournal.com/ Riechan

    on another note,
    I was able to follow most part of the video, without reading the subtitles, hooray !!!!! ^^
    It’s good that you do videos with simple japanese, so people who are learning japanese (like me) can understand them ^^.
    btw you look very funny in the vid :D

  • naho

    I am Japanese living in Kyoto city.　I enjoyed your video.
    I would like to try Azuki since I really like Azuki.
    I often make Azuki sweets such as Uirou, Andango.
    what do you mean by 食感が弱い？？

  • naho

    I am Japanese living in Kyoto city.　I enjoyed your video.
    I would like to try Azuki since I really like Azuki.
    I often make Azuki sweets such as Uirou, Andango.
    what do you mean by 食感が弱い？？

  • http://gakuranman.com/ Mike

    Hi Naho, thanks for your message! I’m not sure the Azuki Pepsi will satisfy you if you really like azuki, because it’s not very realistic, but you should still give it a try ^^. I made a mistake in saying 食感が弱い. I meant to say 味覚が弱い or 味おんち because I have a poor sense of taste ^^;

  • http://gakuranman.com/ Mike

    Hi Naho, thanks for your message! I’m not sure the Azuki Pepsi will satisfy you if you really like azuki, because it’s not very realistic, but you should still give it a try ^^. I made a mistake in saying 食感が弱い. I meant to say 味覚が弱い or 味おんち because I have a poor sense of taste ^^;

  • http://caught-redhanded.com/ Ryan

    Well, the fact that you took a second gulp says to me that it wasn’t completely disgusting, though I have tasted a whole host of these Pepsi/Cola concoctions and I can’t say that I’m the biggest fan of any of them.

    That said, this is one that I have definitely not tried, so the next time I’m over in Japan (was there last week, but didn’t see it knocking around) I’ll give it a go.

    —

    I look your new, shorter posts, and I find that my blog is not updated enough either seeing as I go into ridiculous amounts of detail on every post, so maybe this is something I should try first. Let me know how it works out for you..

  • http://caught-redhanded.com Ryan

    Well, the fact that you took a second gulp says to me that it wasn’t completely disgusting, though I have tasted a whole host of these Pepsi/Cola concoctions and I can’t say that I’m the biggest fan of any of them.

    That said, this is one that I have definitely not tried, so the next time I’m over in Japan (was there last week, but didn’t see it knocking around) I’ll give it a go.

    —

    I look your new, shorter posts, and I find that my blog is not updated enough either seeing as I go into ridiculous amounts of detail on every post, so maybe this is something I should try first. Let me know how it works out for you..

  • http://www.watermelonstudios.co.uk/ Satoshii

    I popped into my local Family Mart and got a bottle. I gotta say, i’m not really sure how to feel about this. It’s unique, thats for sure, but it doesn’t seem…special. Its not disgusting at all, but its not something i’d get again when i’m in the コンビニ. Smells strange, maybe of jasmine as Orchid64 said, i’m just not sure.

    変なことだね。

  • http://www.watermelonstudios.co.uk Satoshii

    I popped into my local Family Mart and got a bottle. I gotta say, i’m not really sure how to feel about this. It’s unique, thats for sure, but it doesn’t seem…special. Its not disgusting at all, but its not something i’d get again when i’m in the コンビニ. Smells strange, maybe of jasmine as Orchid64 said, i’m just not sure.

    変なことだね。

  • Philippe P.

    Heh, thanks for your reply!

    Although I doubt it can be found at all in my place: finding Japanese stuff is kinda hard here. I can’t even find dashi :(

  • Philippe P.

    Heh, thanks for your reply!

    Although I doubt it can be found at all in my place: finding Japanese stuff is kinda hard here. I can’t even find dashi :(

  • http://jadij.blogspot.com/ Blue Shoe

    I have yet to try this one, but seems to me that it can’t be any worse than the Shiso…that one tasted like pine needles.

  • http://jadij.blogspot.com/ Blue Shoe

    I have yet to try this one, but seems to me that it can’t be any worse than the Shiso…that one tasted like pine needles.

  • http://www.bestpressurecookerreviews.com/ Ann of Pressure Cooker Reviews

    I find it weird to have bean-flavored soda….I am really wondering what it taste like. Do pepsi have that only in Japan?

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