Calpis (カルピス), sold in North America as Calpico, is a Japanese probiotic milk beverage manufactured by Calpis Co., Ltd. (カルピス株式会社), a subsidiary of Asahi Breweries headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo.[1] The beverage has a light, somewhat milky, and slightly acidic flavour, similar to plain or vanilla-flavoured yogurt or Yakult. Its ingredients include water, dry milk, and lactic acid, and it is produced by lactic acid fermentation.[2]
The drink is sold as a concentrate, which is mixed with water or sometimes milk just before consumption. A pre-diluted version known as Calpis Water (カルピスウォーター), or its carbonated variety, known as Calpis Soda (カルピスソーダ), is also available. It is also used to flavour kakigōri and as a mixer for cocktails and chūhai.
History
The founder of Calpis,, travelled to Mongolia in 1902, encountering a traditional cultured milk product known as