Because of technical issues, the world has never yet seen a SOY soda, but this week came news of a breakthrough from Otsuka Pharmaceuticals in Japan. Their new carbonated brand “SOYSH” is made of whole soy milk with sugar and special flavourings made possible by a newly-developed technology which prevents coagulation.
“SOYSH” will launch in this summer, and will be be sold exclusively on Otsuka’s internet shopping site. It comes in a glass bottle, and costs 105 yen, a typical price for Japanese beverages. Otsuka hopes to create a new core product like their most well known brand POCARI SWEAT, and the company also plans in the future to launch this brand outside Japan.
Japan has a long history of soy foods such as soy sauce, miso, natto etc. Otsuka already sells several soy-based products, such as SOY JOY, a soy snack-bar, and Sugoi Daizu which is a soy milk based on whole soy and ‘Okara’, or soy pulp. The company will continue to be strongly focused on the soy business because they believe soy has significant potential for improving human wellness and nutrition issues around the world.