"'This drink tastes like soda mixed with toothpaste, unpleasant'... The 'I eumryo' that became famous due to harsh criticism"

Beverage with Carbonation Added to Natural Sedative Substance
Gains Fame Mentioning Throat Candy Company Name
Many Negative Reviews on Taste but Also Hopes for a Second Pocari Sweat

Photo of Frisk Sparkling product released in mid-May in Japan
[Photo by Daido Drink]

A beverage containing a natural neurostabilizer substance has gained fame in Japan despite receiving harsh criticism after its release.

On the 10th, 'Nikkei X Trend' reported that Daido Drink in Japan is facing controversy over its 'FRISK SPARKLING,' launched in mid-May. This product contains GABA, a natural neurostabilizer substance. GABA is one of the amino acids widely present in the human body and is well known in the US and Europe for alleviating mental stress and fatigue. The name FRISK in the product comes from the Belgian brand known for its throat candies. The company promoted it as "the world's first licensed brand to use the FRISK name."

The product on the market comes in a 250ml can priced at 183 yen (1,600 won, excluding tax) and contains 28mg of GABA. The company advertised it as "offering a pleasant sweetness without sugar and the refreshing sensation of carbonation." The target consumers are office workers and students tired from work and study. While the market and consumer interest were high, the taste received many harsh reviews.

Recently, a post on X (formerly Twitter) by a consumer who drank the beverage and reviewed its taste was read by over 23 million people, becoming a hot topic. The Nikkei article also received more than 600 comments. One netizen said, "It tasted like soda mixed with toothpaste," adding, "They probably aimed for the freshness you feel after brushing your teeth, but it was very unpleasant. If they made it with strong menthol and without sugar or sweeteners, it might be drinkable."

Another netizen said, "It tasted like FRISK candy as soon as I drank it," and added, "If you expect a taste close to soda, there is almost no sweetness; it was almost entirely FRISK." There were also reactions saying, "It's nothing more or less than drinking FRISK." While it is a perfect drink for those who like a sharp, refreshing sensation, comments suggest that preferences will be sharply divided depending on the person.

There are also positive reviews. One netizen, who is a railway crew member, said, "I drank it when I was feeling drowsy late at night, and the refreshing sensation from my throat to my stomach cleared my drowsiness," adding, "I think I would rely on it again when I can't help but feel sleepy or tired." Another netizen said, "Just like how Pocari Sweat received harsh criticism at launch but became a trend now, after some time, some people might get addicted to it."