Hokkaido is a treasure trove of gourmet food.
Since you've come all this way, everyone will want to eat something that can only be found in Hokkaido.

You there, who thinks you've visited and conquered every restaurant listed in gourmet guidebooks and travel magazines!
Did you know that Hokkaido has drinks and juices that you can only buy there?

Don't rush to the souvenir shop just yet, since you haven't had your drink.

The drinks I'm introducing today are all things you can buy at your local convenience store or supermarket.
If you actually go to a convenience store or supermarket and take a look, you'll probably notice that there are drinks you've never seen outside of Hokkaido.

This time, we'll introduce some local drinks that can only be bought in Hokkaido.

<Table of Contents>
1. Tangron
2. Ribbon Series
3. Hokkaido Mild Coffee
4. Katsugen
5. (Bonus Episode) Yogurppe
6. Hokkaido residents' favorite ways to enjoy local drinks even more.
Final thoughts

Image provided by: TKS Tangron Co., Ltd.

Research conducted by the Faculty of Fisheries at Hokkaido University has succeeded in extracting kelp extract without destroying its components, such as fibers and minerals, by enzymatically decomposing the kelp, resulting in the creation of "Tangron."

The name comes from the English name for kelp (seaweed), "tanglu," which was shortened to "Tanglon" to make it more approachable.
The packaging has remained unchanged for 47 years, featuring an illustration of kelp, giving it a retro feel.

It used to be used in school lunches throughout Hokkaido, and people in their 30s and 40s in particular seem to have the same reaction and say "nostalgic" when they hold Tangron in their hands.

Image provided by: TKS Tangron Co., Ltd.

It is currently used in hospitals, daycare centers, nursing homes, and school lunches at elementary and junior high schools in Ashibetsu City.
I'm sure the children who are drinking it with their school lunches now will have the same reaction when they grow up. I hope Tangron will continue to be loved for a long time.

<Product Information / Tangron>
TKS Tangron Co., Ltd.
Address: 2-12-8 Atsubetsu-Minami, Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
HP:http://tanguron.com/index.html

Ribbon Citron

Image provided by: Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage Co., Ltd.

Since its creation in 1909, this long-selling product has been popular for over 100 years, thanks to its stimulating carbonation and refreshing, clear taste.
The design is reminiscent of the packaging of "Ribbon Citron," a glass bottled drink that was released in the 1970s and enjoyed long-term popularity.

For the 1.5L PET (Hokkaido only) and 450ml PET (Hokkaido only) varieties, we have added a new "first-harvest lemon scent" that captures the aroma of lemons harvested early in the season, resulting in an even crisper and more refreshing taste than before.

Ribbon

Image provided by: Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage Co., Ltd.

Its most distinctive feature is its vibrant orange color. You might not have heard of it on Honshu, but in Hokkaido, Ribbon Napolin is a staple at any gathering of people, such as barbecues and neighborhood association meetings. Developed to suit Hokkaido's climate, its flavor is sweet yet refreshing. Drinking it during the hot summer months will instantly enhance your enjoyment of summer.

Ribbon Haskap Soda

Image provided by: Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage Co., Ltd.

Ribbon PREMIUM, a step above the rest of the Ribbon brand, is a truly "premium" carbonated beverage that uses haskap extract derived from haskap berries grown in Hokkaido and sweetened with Hokkaido beet sugar. The vibrant aroma of haskap and the refreshing tartness characteristic of berries are perfectly captured, making this a soda you'll want to drink again and again.

<Product Information / Ribbon Series>
Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage Co., Ltd.
Address: 4-2-29 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
HP:http://www.pokkasapporo-fb.jp/ribbon/

Image provided by: Sapporo Ueshima Coffee Co., Ltd.

Made with plenty of fresh milk from Hokkaido, this coffee beverage has a very smooth and easy-to-drink taste. Even those who don't like coffee might enjoy this one.

The manufacturer, Sapporo Ueshima Coffee Co., Ltd., is a general food trading company headquartered in Sapporo, Hokkaido.

In addition to Hokkaido Mild Coffee, we also manufacture products using Hokkaido-sourced ingredients, such as "Delicious Hokkaido Corn Potage Soup," a dried soup made with 100% Hokkaido-grown sweet corn, and "Marchen Sugar," made with 100% Hokkaido-grown beetroot.

<Product Information / Hokkaido Mild Coffee>
Sapporo Ueshima Coffee Co., Ltd.
Address: 4-26, Atsubetsu-Higashi 5-jo 1-chome, Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo City
HP:http://www.u-coffee.co.jp

Image provided by: Snow Brand Megmilk Co., Ltd.

Katsugen is the most famous local drink in Hokkaido. It's available in almost every supermarket and convenience store in Hokkaido, so even if you haven't tried it, many people will likely recognize the packaging.

Katsugen is a lactic acid bacteria beverage, and because it contains live lactic acid bacteria, it has a sour taste. However, it also has a sweetness amidst the sourness, and is characterized by being much more concentrated than other lactic acid bacteria beverages.

Image provided by: Snow Brand Megmilk Co., Ltd.

Although it's currently written in katakana, as evidenced by its former use of kanji characters as "活源," it's truly a soul drink for when you need a boost, when you need to persevere, or when you're feeling tired.

Image provided by: Snow Brand Megmilk Co., Ltd.

They offer fruit-flavored products and limited-edition items created in collaboration with other companies, constantly delighting the taste buds of Hokkaido residents.

<Product Information / Katsugen>
Megmilk Snow Brand Co., Ltd.
Address: 6-1-1 Naebo-cho, Higashi-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido
HP:http://www.meg-snow.com/

For those in Kyushu, this drink with its familiar packaging is probably Yogurppe.
Actually, that Yogurppe is also available in Hokkaido.

Image provided by: Hokkaido Hidaka Dairy Co., Ltd.

Made with fresh milk from Hokkaido and carefully selected lactic acid bacteria, this dairy-based lactic acid beverage has a mild acidity and just the right amount of sweetness. It features a nostalgic taste reminiscent of the drinks you might have enjoyed at your grandmother's house when you were a child.

The manufacturer, Hokkaido Hidaka Dairy Co., Ltd., is a dairy manufacturer headquartered in Hidaka, Hokkaido, as its name suggests. It is a group company of Minami Nippon Dairy Cooperative, which manufactures Yogurppe in Kyushu.

We use raw milk from dairy cows raised freely on the vast plains of Hokkaido to produce dairy products such as cheese and butter.
The packaging of Yogurppe clearly features illustrations and text of Hokkaido, demonstrating its deep roots in the local community.

The difference between this and the Kyushu version of Yogurppe is that it uses Hokkaido-sourced milk and has different packaging. Judging from online reviews, the taste difference isn't very noticeable. Will you be able to tell the difference? Please try both and compare them!

<Product Information / Yogurppe>
Hokkaido Hidaka Dairy Co., Ltd.
Address: 920 Tomikawa Higashi 2-chome, Hidaka-cho, Saru-gun, Hokkaido
HP:http://www.hidaka-milk.co.jp/

<PR>
Nikka Highball, exclusively available in Hokkaido, will be released this spring!
Black Nikka Highball - A Fragrant Night
In April 2018, Nikka Whisky launched "Highball Kaoru Yoru" (Fragrant Night Highball), a Black Nikka brand highball exclusively for the Hokkaido region. It boasts a sweet and gentle aroma, a pleasantly lingering, rich finish, and a deep, full-bodied flavor thanks to the Yoichi malt. This highball is perfect for enhancing your relaxation time at the end of the day. It is available for purchase at convenience stores and other retailers throughout Hokkaido.

[Click here for the introductory article] →→I participated in the "Black Nikka Highball Fragrant Night" event, which is exclusively available in Hokkaido (PR).

- In the summer, eat it semi-frozen like a sorbet.
Ribbon Napolin and Ribbon Citron are even more delicious when the effervescence of the carbonation combines with the coolness.
Additionally, with lactic acid-based beverages, the sourness is slightly neutralized, and the sweetness becomes stronger and milder.

Shochu mix
Mixing it with a lactic acid-based beverage eliminates the strong smell of shochu, making it much easier to drink. It's similar to the Calpis Highball you might find on a Japanese izakaya menu.
It tastes good even when mixed with only lactic acid drinks, but it's absolutely delicious when mixed with a lactic acid drink and a carbonated drink like Ribbon Napolin or Ribbon Citron.

Shochu is dangerous because you can easily drink it in large quantities without realizing it's alcohol.

Besides these, in Hokkaido households, these local drinks are enjoyed in various forms, such as being heated or made into jelly, not just as beverages.

Final thoughts

As the weather gets hotter, we've introduced some easily accessible juices that are perfect for quenching your thirst and refreshing yourself while sightseeing.

Whether you're someone who's weak for limited editions, or someone who wants to brag about what they ate and drank in Hokkaido when you get back, or just wants something to talk about, give it a try! You might find yourself wanting to come back to Hokkaido again because you miss that taste!

Please also check out these related articles.

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