Jelly drinks – popular snack for young women

As most of us know, there is a continuous trend for healthy food- and drink products in Japan. Products made with gelatines derived from seaweed are one example of such popular healthy foods, rich in natural fibre, of Japanese origin.

Kagome Co. Ltd., a leading producer of food- and beverage products based on tomatoes and other vegetables, capitalised on this popularity and introduced two jelly drinks, made with these Japanese gelatines with Japanese fruit flavour, in Tetra Brik Aseptic 250 Slim packages in 2000.

The texture of the product is a soft gel that breaks down into small pieces when subjected to the suction force of the straw in the mouth of the consumer.

In 2003, the range was upgraded with new flavours – Japanese plum and Grapefruit. The products contain 10% jelly from Kanten & Konnyaku* and 52 mg calcium/100 ml. (Kanten or Agar-Agar is a gelatine derived from refined seaweed)

Kagome’s product is positioned as a “Japanese healthy snack” for young women, including high school students.

The jelly drinks are sold exclusively in vending machines, located at offices and schools.

For more information please contact Emi Sato, Tetra Pak Japan.

* Konnyaku

Konnyaku – (Amorphophaiius Konjac,K. Koch.), produced from tubers of Konnyaku root, has been consumed as a part of important Japanese dishes for over 2,000 years.

Science now unveils the real value of the Konnyaku as a high dietary fibre, low calorie, diet food which shows several unique functions for maintaining a well-being. When taken with foods, it is claimed to reduce the speed of sugar absorption that in turn prevents a too rapid blood-sugar increase.

Studies also indicate that Konnyaku lowers cholesterol levels. Konnyaku is said to be ideal for weight reduction since it forms a jelly-like material and expands about 30-50 times in the digestive system, giving the sensation that the “stomach is full”. An ingredient of Konnyaku is Glucomannan.