Lemon boom in Japan attributed to health consciousness, stay-at-home lifestyles
January 11, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)
A Lemon hot pot recommended for winter. (Photo courtesy of Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage Ltd.) TOKYO Lemons used to be something to put in black tea or couple with fries decades ago in Japan, but the country has seen a lemon boom in recent years, with snack and beverage makers using the fruit in various products. According to shochu liquor distillers, lemon sour drinks (Japanese-style shochu cocktails mixed with lemon juice and soda) have been popular over the past few years, and a number of companies have put the spotlight on drinks and dishes using lemon. The health benefits of lemons are being studied, and with a focus on health consciousness amid the novel coronavirus pandemic and a trend toward stay-at-home lifestyles, the popularity of lemon products looks likely to persist this year.