Calpis

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Calpis (????, Karupisu) is a Japanese uncarbonated soft drink, manufactured by Calpis Co., Ltd. (????????, Karupisu Kabushiki-gaisha), headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. Calpis Co. is a subsidiary of Asahi. The beverage has a light, somewhat milky, and slightly acidic flavor, similar to plain or vanilla flavored yogurt or Yakult. Its ingredients include water, nonfat dry milk and lactic acid, and is produced by lactic acid fermentation.

The drink is sold as a concentrate which is mixed with water or sometimes milk just before consumption. A pre diluted version known as Calpis Water (?????????, Karupisu W?t?), or its carbonated variety, known as Calpis Soda (???????, Karupisu S?da), are also available. It is also used to flavor kakigori (shaved ice) and as a mixer for cocktails and chuhai.

It was first marketed on July 7, 1919. It quickly became popular in pre war Japan, as its concentrated form meant it kept well without refrigeration. The polka dot packaging used to be white dots against a blue background until the colours were inverted in 1953. It was originally themed on the Milky Way, which is in reference to the Japanese festival of Tanabata on July 7, a traditional observation seen as the start of the summer.

Video Calpis

Name

The name Calpis was constructed as a portmanteau, by combining cal from calcium and pis from Sanskrit ?? ??? sarpis (butter flavor). Primarily in North America, the name Calpis is changed to Calpico with ???? in katakana either below or on the reverse side of the packaging.

Maps Calpis

Logo

Calpis's original logo was a simplified black and white depiction of a black man with large lips drinking from a glass using a straw. The logo was developed from a painting by a German artist depicting a black person wearing a Panama hat drinking Calpis. As the logo came to be considered offensive, the black/white was first reversed, and then the logo was subsequently dropped altogether.

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Inspiration

The founder of Calpis, Kaiun Mishima, traveled to the Mongolian region of northern China ("Inner Mongolia") in 1904, encountering a traditional cultured milk product known as airag (called kumis throughout most of Central Asia). The active ingredient in airag, responsible for its unique flavor, is lactic acid produced by lactobacilli bacteria. Upon returning to Japan, he resolved to develop beverages based on cultured milk and lactic acid.

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See also

• Asahi - wholly owning parent company of Calpis
• List of fermented foods
• Pocari Sweat

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References

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External links

• Calpis official web site
• CALPICO official web site
• Calpis Official web site (Archive)
• Asahi Group Company Listings

Source of article : Wikipedia