Aojiru: Classic Japanese Green Vegetable Juice
A TV commercial in my childhood left an impact on me, and even now, when I find the product Aojiru (青汁), an actor’s line in the commercial saying Mazui, Mou Ippai (まずい、もう一杯: Taste terrible, but another serving) frequently crosses my mind.
But thanks to the quote, the recognition of Aojiru drastically increased, and now it has become successful in Japan. Searching online, I could find that Kyusai Aojiru commercial, so if you are curious, please watch this video (Youtube) and get smile!
Aojiru (青汁)
The impression I got as a kid was so strong that I had the old notion until recently that Aojiru tastes terrible, and thus, I avoided buying the product altogether.
But nowadays, it is available everywhere, and the other day, I finally bought Itoen’s bottled Aojiru from a vending machine to try. Also, I received a stick of 100 Percent Omugi Wakaba Aojiru powder by chance from a coworker yesterday.
What is Aojiru?
First and foremost, for the unfamiliar, Aojiru/青汁 is a non-sweetened, simple green vegetable juice squeezed from leafy greens such as kale, Omugi Wakaba (young barley leaves), Ashitaba (a herb of the parsley family), or mulberry leaves.
Most Japanese Aojiru products mainly use the four veggies; Some are a blend of 2 or 3 of them, with Matcha green tea powder in it to make it easier to drink, while others solely consist of one ingredient (Ex. 100 percent kale or 100 percent Omugi Wakaba).
Regarding the easiness of drinking, the ones mainly using Omugi Wakaba seem to be the most easily drinkable. In contrast, many find the ones consisting of 100 percent kale have a high degree of difficulty.
Taste
As for this Itoen Aojiru PET bottle, the main ingredients are Omugi Wakaba and kale, but the addition of Matcha green tea powder gives the beverage a familiar taste, making the juice mild and easier to drink.
Although it isn’t bad, I wouldn’t purchase any Aojiru products again. Today in Japan, many people customarily drink Aojiru to be healthy, but I prefer taking Tokuho green teas like this and this when considering my health.
