If you’ve ever been to Japan, you have probably seen the Japanese drink Strong Zero in convenience stores or supermarkets. You may have even been persuaded to try one. If you haven’t tried these chuhai mixed drinks, or if you don’t know what I’m talking about, you’re missing out! If you are overseas, don’t worry, you can still get these amazing drinks!!
A Strong Zero is a chuhai, which is shochu—a traditional Japanese liquor made from potatoes, barley, or grains—mixed with carbonated water and different flavours. For those of you who don’t like the taste of alcohol, chuhai is a great option.
They are pleasant and easy to drink. They contain delicious fruit flavours like lemon, lime, grapefruit, and more, and you don’t taste the alcohol as much. You could go on drinking it without realising it’s an alcoholic mixed drink.
Find out more about different Japanese drinks, Japanese beers, the special strong zero you can get in Japan, and how to prepare for a night out in Tokyo.
There’s a wide range of chuhais to explore, each with different flavours, alcohol level and sugar contents. However, Strong Zeroes may be the most notorious chuhais in Japan.
Strong Zeroes are named as such for their “strong” alcohol content of 9% and “zero” in that it has “zero” sugar in it. Though 9% might not sound like a lot, a single can is actually roughly equivalent to two beers. On top of that, this Japanese drink is carbonated, and the carbonation helps transfer alcohol into your bloodstream faster; you’ll feel the alcohol kick in quicker. This is a mixed drink carefully designed to get you drunk. Some have likened it to the American Four Loko.
It is the go-to drink for both locals and foreigners before heading to a club or before starting a wild night. It is the ultimate pregame drink as just a can or two (priced at around USD$1.40 for a 500ml can, and USD$1.00 for a 350ml can) will get you a good proper buzz before your night even really begins.
If you are interested in checking out other Japanese liquors, you can have a look at Japanese alcohol and Japanese beer!
Strong Zeroes are also easily accessible, found in all convenience stores and supermarkets. Here’s a list of some Strong Zeroes so you’ll know what to look for when you get there.
Suntory’s -196°C Strong Zero
When a person mentions Strong Zeroes, this is the one that comes to everyone’s minds. It’s the most widely available Strong Zero in Tokyo. They usually come in fruit flavours, from their classic lemon and lime to the more unique pickled plum and bitter yuzu. Though it has an alcohol content of 9%, you can barely taste the alcohol. Instead, it’s a light and refreshing drink that’ll still give you the kick many drinkers want.
If you’re looking to get really drunk, chug this Japanese drink. It’ll hit you hard in a couple of minutes.
Kirin’s Hyoketsu Strong
If Suntory’s -196°C Strong Zero is the Coca-Cola of these drinks, then Kirin’s Hyoketsu Strong is Pepsi, at least in terms of popularity. The Hyoketsu Strong is in no way inferior to Suntory’s -196°C Strong Zero—they even taste pretty similar, both fruit-flavoured with a 9% Alcohol By Volume (ABV). Suntory simply got a headstart on Kirin, having released their first Strong Zero in 2009, whereas Kirin only got into the Strong Zero game in 2013. In those four years, Suntory had made its -196°C Strong Zero the Strong Zero and the ultimate chuhai. But just because something’s more popular doesn’t mean you’ll like it better, so try them both and see which team you want to be on!
Note that as it lacks the “zero” of “Strong Zero” in its name, there is a small amount of sugar in Hyoketsu Strongs.
Takara Shuzo’s can CHU-HI/Dry
Unlike Suntory and Kirin which are both large and famous alcohol companies, Takara Shuzo is a smaller, lesser-known alcohol company that also does business in seasonings and biotechs. They sell Japanese rice wine, Japanese plum wine, Chinese alcohol, and, of course, Strong Zeroes.
Their Strong Zero is called “can CHU-HI Dry” and has an ABV of 9%. Probably harder to find in convenience stores than its counterpart is the “can CHU-HI”, which is in a silver can as opposed to the can CHU-HI Dry’s black can. The can CHU-HI is classified as a Strong rather than a Strong Zero as it has sugar in it, but its ABV is still a high 8%. If you want something sweeter, go for this one.
Their names are similar and you might get them mixed up in convenience stores, so here’s a simple breakdown:
Silver can: 8% ABV, sugar. Black can: 9% ABV, no sugar.
Asahi Clear Cooler
This Japanese drink is neither a Strong Zero nor a Strong. However, its higher-than-average ABV of 6% makes it a good backup for a stronger-than-usual drink if Strong Zeroes and these chuhais aren’t to your liking, so we’ve decided to include it in this list.
Like the other mixed drinks in this list, the Asahi Clear Cooler comes in fruit varieties such as lemon, lime, grapefruit, pineapple, and more. The most popular Asahi Clear Cooler is the grapefruit-flavoured one; it tastes similar to Fresca, a grapefruit-flavoured soda, but is much tangier.
Of all the drinks in this list, it’s the most affordable at USD$1 for a 350ml can, and USD$1.30 for a 500ml can.
While you’re in Tokyo, you may want to have some wild, drunken nights out, and Strong Zeroes will definitely help you do just that. However, if you haven’t had any of these drinks before, take it easy and try them out slowly first. They affect everyone in different ways and you would want to make sure these drinks agree with you before you chug one down. If you like them, try more flavours while you’re still in Tokyo! There may even be special seasonal ones, depending on the time you visit.
Curious to try Japan’s unique alcoholic drinks? Our travel planner can include a tasting tour of Japan’s signature drinks, including the Strong Zero, in your itinerary. Or, join our Food and Drinks Bar Tour to discover Tokyo’s vibrant nightlife with a local expert. Perfect for the adventurous traveller!
If you want to hear some reviews of these chuhai drinks, check out the video that we have linked above, where a few members of our team (new to Tokyo!) try out different Strong Zeroes!
Have you tried a Strong Zero or any chuhai drinks? Did you grab them in convenience stores? If you have any stories you’d like to share, please include them down below in the comment section!
Find out more about all the different Japanese food, different types of ramen, and ramen chains in Japan. For drinks, check out different Japanese drinks, Japanese beers, the special strong zero you can get in Japan, and how to prepare for a night out in Tokyo.
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