It’s so hot in summer! In Japan, people mostly drink ready-made drinks sold in vending machines or convenience stores. Among the dazzling variety of Japanese drinks, what do Japanese drink to spend the hot summer?
Speaking of summer drinks: barley tea is the overwhelming champion!
Perhaps it is the little wisdom of our ancestors that has been passed down to this day, or perhaps the living and eating habits have not changed much. In the beverage survey conducted by the market research company I research for many years, the beverage that Japanese people think of when talking about summer ranks first. They are all "Maicha", and even the proportion of people who responded is as high as 90%.
Why is barley tea the representative summer drink of the Japanese? This history can be traced back to the Heian period, when aristocrats and military commanders were very fond of drinking barley tea. Until the Edo period, there were "wheat soup shops" with a concept similar to modern coffee shops, specializing in selling barley tea for pedestrians to enjoy.
It is said that the popularity of barley tea is not only that barley has been produced in Japan since ancient times, but also that the rich minerals in barley tea can replenish the minerals lost during sweating in summer and also replenish moisture. Therefore, it has been a summer cooling companion for Japanese people since ancient times. On the other hand, barley tea suitable for all ages is also very convenient to prepare. You can brew a pot at home for later use. Most of the tea often served to guests in Japanese dramas is barley tea, which is a good helper for household expenses and is both economical and delicious.
Really common drinks: Coffee, barley tea, green tea, water
However, when it comes to beverage choices after leaving home, barley tea may not necessarily be the choice. According to the summer beverage survey results of MyVoice, another market research company, it was found that more people choose coffee than wheat tea to cool down.
would choose coffee. Most of the reasons are because it can refresh and cool it. It is the only choice to cheer up when working. In addition, as the trend of selling freshly made coffee in convenience stores has become more and more popular in recent years, you can drink delicious and freshly made iced coffee for 100 yen, which has also become the first choice of summer drinks for office workers.
closely followed by Japanese favorite barley tea, followed by green tea with a slight gap in third place and mineral water in fourth place.
For non-office workers, tea and water that are refreshing and have no special bitter taste are still the best choices for relieving the heat. On the one hand, I'm used to drinking it, but on the other hand, you can buy a big can for a small amount of money, and you might not be able to finish it all day long. It is a very high value choice for replenishing moisture which is very important in summer.
The best sales in summer: Sports drinks, bottled coffee and cola
Speaking of which, although Japanese people drink barley tea and coffee so often, are these drinks really the best sold in supermarkets and supermarkets in summer?
According to the sales survey of market research company True Data, among the top ten best-selling beverages in summer, four of the top ten are green tea or barley tea in large cans and bottles, but the top three are two. Liter sports drinks, as well as lightly sugared bottled coffee and bottled cola.
Sports drinks, which are not among the top three in many summer beverage surveys, take the top spot in sales. In addition to its price being more expensive than coffee and cola, families with students at home also I often buy sports drinks for backup. Summer in Japan is very hot, with temperatures of 36 or 37 degrees not uncommon. However, summer is a good time for students to exercise and play, so replenishing water becomes more important. Compared with barley tea, sweetened sports drinks are more popular among children. In addition, sports drinks are rich in minerals, electrolytes, etc. Drinking them in moderation can avoid dehydration, heat stroke, etc.
