I'd like to buy the world a Calpis...

Well, we've found what seems to be our favorite drink on the island. It's called calpis and is an uncarbonated soft drink manufactured by Calpis Co., Ltd. headquartered in Tokyo.

It was first marketed on July 7, 1919. It quickly became popular in pre-war Japan as its concentrated form meant it kept well without refrigeration. The polka dot packaging used to be white dots against a blue background until the colours were inverted in 1953. It was originally themed on the Milky Way, which is in reference to the Japanese festival of tanabata on July 7, a traditional observation seen as the start of the summer. Calpis was first sold on this day.

Calpis has a light, somewhat milky and slightly acidic flavor, similar to plain or vanilla-flavored yogurt. Its ingredients include water, nonfat dry milk and lactic acid. It is produced by lactic acid fermentation. It 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, are also available. It is also used to flavor kakigori (shaved ice dessert) and as a mixer for cocktails and chuchai In English-speaking countries the beverage is sometimes called "Calpico," because "Calpis" may sound like something else that doesn't sound so nice. I edited it for you. Quite frankly, the first time someone told me what it was and asked me if I wanted to try it I was shocked at what I thought they had said. :)