It's confusing, it's sinister and it's been spotted in popular convenience stores (7-Eleven being one of them) for 29RMB: fat-fighting cola is here, and it's taking no prisoners.
The dubious drink is claimed to block fat absorption and regulate triglyceride levels when drunk alongside food, because of its high-fibre content (a whopping 5g per bottle). It's also got zero calories and no sugar, although it's still packed with the popular sweetener aspartame, which has been argued about in terms of safety for years. Weight-loss colas have been knocking around in the Land of the Rising Sun for a while now, although this particular one is the only drink on the market with guidelines to follow and a maximum consumption level of one 470ml bottle a day.
To be honest, the literal diet coke tastes enough like normal Diet Coke for it to be fairly slapped with the company's famous red branding, but the texture of the drink leaves a lot to be desired. If the equation of 'texture' with 'fizzy drink' is making you rinse while reading this, you're not alone; while regular sodas bring carbonation to the party and little else, this variation on the theme feels sticky and viscous, slipping down with a slimy lurch to the back of the throat and a vaguely oily aftertaste.
Artist's impression of us, after downing a bottle.
We're planning to give this beverage a miss for a couple of reasons: the aforementioned taste and the fact that it's too bloody expensive.
You can also get hold of this dubious elixir at jd.com, but for your next trip to the convenience store, may we suggest a nice iced coffee instead...