Green tea Coca-Cola to debut in Japan

TOKYO – Forget ‘Classic’ or ‘New’ Coke. In Japan, you can soon have your cola flavoured with green tea or basil.

Green tea-flavoured Coca-Cola will hit Japanese stores on June 8, Coca Cola (Japan) Co. spokesman Katsuya Sato said yesterday. It contains tea antioxidants called catechins, leaves a slight green tea aftertaste and is mainly targeted at health-conscious women in their 20s and 30s, Sato said.’We wanted to cater to people who are looking for something that tastes good but is also good for health and beauty,’ he said.Coca-Cola is the leader in Japan’s cola market but faces stiff competition from non-carbonated bottled drinks such as tea, coffee and fruit juices.Rival Pepsi Cola is countering with another exotic cola – Japanese basil-flavoured ‘Pepsi Shiso,’ which hits stores in late June. -Nampa-AP