"Wherever I go, I think of cola. The ability to create a variety of flavors is unique to craft cola. In other words, it's easy to create originality. I think that's why the boom has spread so far."
These are the words of Cola Kobayashi, the founder of Iyoshi Cola. Born and raised in Shimo-Ochiai, this huge cola lover decided to make a change after working at an advertising agency. Influenced by his grandfather, who was a herbal medicine craftsman, he decided to make craft cola as a profession. Starting out with a food truck, his cola is now even stocked in major convenience stores. He is a leading figure who could be said to have sparked the craft cola boom of recent years.
"Under the theme of 'Drink Japan,' we are planning to turn ingredients with a story from each region into cola, and we are also planning to open shops with partners in each region. Just as craft beer is being created all over the country, there is actually a high affinity between travel and cola. We are sometimes invited overseas to serve cola, and sometimes we get new inspiration there."
"Taiwan's Margao Cola" born from chance encounters and bonds
iStock/tawatchaiprakobkit
A typical recipe is "Taiwanese Margao Cola". Margao is also known as a legendary spice, and is a rare spice that is hand-picked in the deep mountains of Taiwan. It has a tingling sensation similar to that of Japanese pepper and a citrus-like aroma.
"I not only travel to Taiwan, but also set up stalls at events. That's when I first encountered margao. It's a rare spice used in Taiwanese cuisine such as boiled dumplings. I only knew the name, and when I went to visit a business partner, they were selling Karen margao. After the Taiwan earthquake, I made a cola using Karen margao and donated all the profits."
Kobayashi's craft cola making has its roots in herbal medicine, and ingredients from the Chinese region are indispensable for it. Here are the ingredients and recipe. Kobayashi has arranged it so that it can be easily made at home.
[Ingredients (4-5 servings)]
・100ml water
・1/4 lemon
・1/4 lime
・100g cane sugar
・1/2 teaspoon caramel
(Hereafter referred to as spice mix)
・6 to 7 pieces of margao
・Half a whole cinnamon
・2 cloves
・1 cardamom
[How to make]
First, slice the lemons and limes with the skin on. The key is to add the skin on. This will bring out the citrus flavor.
Put margao, whole cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom into a mortar and pestle, crush them, and mix well to make a spice mix. If you don't have a mortar and pestle, crush them with the back of a spoon.
Put 100ml of water and 100g of cane sugar in a saucepan or other small pot, then add the spice mix. Heat over low heat and stir gently. Once the ingredients are absorbed into the water, add the sliced lemon and lime.
When it done boiling, turn off the heat and add 1/2 teaspoon of caramel and mix. It's still delicious this way, but if you let it cool and leave it in the refrigerator overnight, the flavors will blend better.
Craft cola is made with 1 syrup : 3 carbonated water. Serve with plenty of ice.
The lemon and lime bring a refreshing citrus aroma to the orthodox cola, and the tingling sensation similar to that of Japanese pepper, Sansyo gives it an overwhelming sense of originality. A little spice is amazing. Enjoy this cola with an oriental flavor.
"Moroccan Mandarin Orange Cola" - Irresistible fresh citrus flavor
iStock/VSargues
"I've traveled not only to Taiwan, but all over the world. One thing that made the biggest impression on me was the freshness of the orange juice I had in Morocco. I stayed in a small, four-story hotel in Casablanca, and I'll never forget the taste of the orange juice I had for breakfast on the rooftop. Morocco also has its own unique spice culture. I incorporated that into my recipes."
The main ingredient is the fresh flavor of mandarin oranges. The syrup is made by boiling the oranges, but adding the strongly fragrant peels also helps bring out the vibrant orange flavor.
[Ingredients (4-5 servings)]
・100ml water
・1/2 mandarin orange
・100g cane sugar
・1/2 teaspoon caramel
(Hereafter referred to as spice mix)
・1/2 teaspoon dry ginger
・Half a whole cinnamon
・2 cloves
・1 cardamom
・A little nutmeg powder
・A little paprika powder
[How to make]
Similarly, slice the orange with the skin on. Crush the whole cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and dried ginger into granules. Finally, sprinkle on some paprika and nutmeg powder to complete the spice mix.
The basic recipe is the same as Margao Cola. Put 100g of cane sugar in 100ml of water in a saucepan or other small pot, and add the spice mix. Heat on low heat and stir gently. Once mixed, add sliced oranges.
When it done boiling, turn off the heat, add 1/2 teaspoon of caramel, allow to cool, and refrigerate overnight before it's done.
The most distinctive feature is the aroma and presence of orange. You can also enjoy the complex flavor of spices. It is reminiscent of the unique aroma of spices floating around in the souks (markets) of the Middle East. However, the sweet aroma of mandarin orange is the main feature, and the finish has a gentle impression.
Spicy and refreshing! "Okinawa Shikwasa Cola"
iStock/cf2
There are many attractive ingredients both from overseas and Japan. Among them, the one we chose is an Okinawan ingredient. It is said to be inspired by the spicy table condiment, koregusu, often added to soki soba.
"Okinawa is a place I love. In fact, when I was a student, I went to Iriomote Island to study fish. Iriomote Island is a place with mountains, clear streams, and the sea, where the untouched nature of Okinawa. This cola is inspired by the refreshing feeling that floats around there. We also added island pepper (hi-haatsu) to give it an Okinawan essence. You can buy it at Okinawa's public markets, etc."
[Ingredients (4-5 servings)]
・100ml water
・2 shekwasha
・100g cane sugar
・1/2 teaspoon caramel
(Hereafter referred to as spice mix)
・1 stick of island pepper
・1/2 eagle claw
・A pinch of Okinawan salt
・Half a whole cinnamon
・2 cloves
・1 cardamom
[How to make]
Same as the previous two recipes, slice the Shikwasha with the skin on. Crush the island pepper, red chili pepper, whole cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom into granules.
Put 100ml of water and 100g of cane sugar in a saucepan or other small pot, then add the spice mix. Add a pinch of Okinawan salt. Heat over low heat and stir gently. Once mixed, add the sliced Shikuwasa.
Once it comes to a boil, turn off the heat, add 1/2 teaspoon of caramel, let cool, and then leave in the refrigerator overnight.
The refreshing scent of Shekwasha fills your mouth. It has just the right amount of saltiness, and leaves a tingling sensation in your throat afterwards. The saltiness and spiciness don't overwhelm the sweetness, so it's enjoyable for both adults and children.
There are as many recipes as there are destinations? Welcome to the world of craft cola
"Although there is a format for making craft cola, there is no right answer. This makes it easy to try out different things. It goes well with tea and wasabi from Shizuoka, and Japanese pepper, Shansho from Oku-Hida. It's easy to make, so please try it at home. It's also become a popular topic for elementary school students' independent research these days. How about talking with your child about this and come up with an original recipe?"
All the spices in the recipe introduced this time can be purchased from domestic stores. Above are some recipe variations, but the basic ingredients for making cola are as follows. By the way, this recipe uses additive-free cane sugar, but it is said that the difference in taste is more pronounced when using granulated sugar.
[What you need to make a basic cola (makes 4-5 cups)]
・100ml water
・100g cane sugar
・1/2 teaspoon caramel
・1/4 lemon
・1/4 lime
(Hereafter referred to as spice mix)
・Half a whole cinnamon
・2 cloves
・1 cardamom
The method of making it is the same as the recipe we introduced, grind the spices to make a spice mix, mix it with water and simmer it. Add the lemon and lime, boil it, add the caramel, remove from the heat and chill in the refrigerator overnight.
By the way, Kobayashi has apparently created hundreds of craft cola recipes so far. It's safe to say that there are as many recipes as there are spices and fruits. It's a versatile theme like curry, but it's not spicy, easy to enjoy, and easy to store. It lasts for quite a long time, but to enjoy the spices, it's recommended to drink it within a month.
Travel is full of all sorts of encounters. Food is one of the most memorable experiences. The aroma of fruits, herbs, and spices that strongly reflect the food culture of each region, such as the Chinese medicine wholesale district in Taiwan, the weekend market in Thailand, and the souks in the old towns of Turkey, are sure to make for an original craft cola. How about trying to make your own unique drink that will bring back memories of your trip?
Cola Kobayashi
Born in Tokyo in 1989. CEO of Iyoshi Cola. His grandfather was Ryotaro Ito, a Japanese herbal medicine craftsman. After graduating from the Faculty of Agriculture at Hokkaido University and the Graduate School of Life Sciences at the University of Tokyo, he worked for a major company while pursuing his beloved cola making, and in July 2018, he launched Iyoshi Cola, the world's first craft cola manufacturer and specialty store.
Ira Cola Main Branch Shimo-Ochiai
| address | ： | 3-44-2 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Open | ： | Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays |
| business hours | ： | 13:00～17:00 |
| web | ： | Ira Cola Official Website |
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
