Member-only story
Would You Drink Mayonnaise? Japan Reacts to Lawson’s New Product
The verdict is in as Japanese users have been trying Lawson’s new “drinkable mayo.”
By Jay Andrew Allen
Japanese sweets manufacturers and combinis are always introducing limited-edition products and testing the waters with new snack and drink variations. A new product from Lawson, however, has split Japanese public opinion in twain. Here’s how people are reacting to the notion of a “drinkable mayonnaise” (oh how I wish I was making that up).
A brief history of Japan’s “Mayo-ers”
Globally, mayonnaise as a condiment dates back to the 18th century in Spain and France. It didn’t arrive in Japan until the Taisho Era in 1925, when Kewpie began making its now world-famous variation on the egg and oil concoction.
However, it didn’t take off in Japan immediately. Eggs were still relatively new to Japan and were pricey, which made mayo pricey. Some people didn’t even know what it was for, with many mistaking it for hair pomade.
Mayonnaise production ceased during World War II. The foodstuff finally took off in 1968 and there’s…