Calpis


Calpis is a Japanese uncarbonated soft drink, manufactured by Calpis Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Asahi Breweries headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo.
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, or its carbonated variety, known as Calpis Soda, are also available. It is also used to flavor kakigōri and as a mixer for cocktails and chūhai.
It was first marketed on 7 July 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 7 July, a traditional observation seen as the start of the summer.

Name

The name Calpis was constructed as a portmanteau, by combining cal from calcium and pis from Sanskrit sarpiṣ, meaning butter. Primarily in North America, the name Calpis is changed to Calpico with カルピス in katakana either below or on the reverse side of the packaging.

Logo

Calpis' 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.

Inspiration

The founder of Calpis, Kaiun Mishima, traveled to the Mongolian region of northern China in 1904, encountering a traditional cultured milk product known as airag. 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.