Otsuka Oronamin C: Classic Japanese Energy Drink

Today in Japan, there are a wide variety of energy drinks.

Those beverages can be bought not only in convenience stores and supermarkets, but they are also available from vending machines found in every corner of the city.

Energy drinks sold at vending machines include even Red Bull and Monster Energy, and what I introduce here, Otsuka Oronamin C, is also among them. 

Oronamin C Drink from Otsuka Pharmaceutical 

The Oronamin C Drink produced and sold by Otsuka Pharmaceutical is not a drug but a carbonated soft drink that has long been loved in Japan.

The product was introduced into the market in 1965, and now, it comes in a 120 ml dark brown glass bottle.

The red and white classical logo design has not changed much over the past decades, and most Japanese people can instantly recognize the bottle by it.

The slogan of the product “Genki Hatsuratsu (元気ハツラツ: meaning Alive and Kicking) Oronamin C” is also very famous in Japan and can be heard in the TV commercial.

How to Open

As you can see in the video, the bottle can easily be opened by pulling up the tab and removing the lid. The energy drink inside is clear, brilliant yellow, and it has the right amount of fizz.

Taste

The Otsuka Oronamin C drink is sweetened with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and honey and is not chemically sweet.

The Japanese energy drink has a fruity note that everyone can like and is very easy to drink.

Ingredients/Nutrition Facts

The other ingredients included are salt, carbonic acid, flavoring, vitamin C (220 mg), citric acid, caffeine, niacinamide (12 mg), vitamin B6 (4.9 mg), vitamin B2 (2.4 mg), soluble vitamin P, isoleucine, threonine, phenylalanine, and sodium glutamate.

The Otsuka Oronamin C drink has 79 kcal per 120 ml and contains 18 mg caffeine, priced at 113 yen (about 1.1 USD).

As a reference, Red Bull Energy Drink has 113.5 kcal and 80 mg caffeine per 250 ml, and the price of the 250 ml can in Japan is around 295 yen.