Aojiru facts for kids
Aojiru (error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help)) is a popular Japanese vegetable drink. It is often called "green drink" or "green juice" in English. This name comes from the Japanese meaning. Even though "ao" (青) usually means "blue" in modern Japanese, it can also refer to green plants in older ways of speaking.
Aojiru is most commonly made from healthy ingredients. These include kale or young barley grass. Sometimes, leaves like komatsuna are also used.
Contents
The Story of Aojiru
Aojiru was first created in October 1943. A doctor named Niro Endo (遠藤仁郎, Endō Nirō) developed it. He was an army doctor. He wanted to help his family get enough nutrients during wartime. Food was scarce back then.
A Doctor's Discovery
Dr. Endo experimented with leaves that were usually thrown away. He made juices from them. He believed Aojiru helped his son get better from pneumonia. He also thought it helped his wife recover from a kidney problem called nephritis. By 1949, he decided that kale was the best ingredient for his special juice.
How Aojiru Became Popular
Aojiru became very well-known in 1983. A company called Q'SAI (キューサイ) started selling it. They sold Aojiru made from 100% kale in a powdered form. People could mix it with water.
Growing Sales
Sales of Aojiru really grew after the year 2000. This happened when a big cosmetics company, FANCL, started selling it widely. Today, many Japanese companies make Aojiru. The market for Aojiru was worth over $500 million in 2005.
The Famous Taste
Aojiru is known for having a taste that many people find unpleasant. It can be quite bitter. Because of its strong taste, drinking a glass of Aojiru is often a funny challenge on Japanese TV game shows. It's a common "penalty game" for contestants.
Making it Better
However, companies have been working to make Aojiru taste better. New versions try to reduce the bitter flavor. In 1990, a famous actor and former baseball player named Nobuo Yana appeared in a commercial for Q'SAI. His honest reaction to the drink led to a famous saying: "Horrible! I'll have another one." (Mazui! Mou ippai (まずい！もう一杯)).
Health Notes
Aojiru is a good source of many vitamins and minerals. It can be a healthy addition to your diet.
Important Considerations
However, it's important to be careful if you have certain health conditions or take specific medicines. Aojiru has high levels of potassium, phosphorus, and vitamin A. These might not be good for people who are on dialysis. Also, Aojiru has a lot of vitamin K. This vitamin can affect how well some medicines work, especially those for blood circulation. Always talk to a doctor if you have health concerns.
