What Is Pocari Sweat?

Folks, it’s time to spread the gospel of Pocari Sweat. (Don’t let the name scare you off.) You might have seen this Asian hydration drink at an international grocer (or in Back to the Future II). Pocari Sweat has been hugely popular in Asia for decades, collaborating with renowned animation directors and virtual pop star Hatsune Miku on promotional efforts in multiple countries. That said, the brand’s footprint in the United States is definitely smaller compared to newer hydration brands like PRIME. So, what is Pocari Sweat? Let’s dive into exactly what this minimalist bottle is hiding.

What is Pocari Sweat?

Speaking plainly, Pocari Sweat is the Japanese equivalent to Gatorade. First introduced in 1980, Pocari Sweat is now available in bottles, cans, powdered drink mix, and even pouches of drinkable jelly. Before the end of the 1990s, it was the first non-alcoholic drink in Japan to ship over $1 billion in products. 

Unlike their U.S. hydration drink contemporaries, Pocari Sweat is available in just two variants: the standard version and a reduced-sugar version called Pocari Sweat Ion Water. And, yes, the name is a little weird. “Pocari” has no meaning, and “Sweat” was chosen to advertise what the drink replaces. Some things get lost in translation, but I respect the commitment it takes to keep that name in the expansion to native English-speaking regions.

What is in Pocari Sweat?

Pocari Sweat contains what you’d expect from a hydration beverage: purified water, sugar, salt, and pretty much everything else that you’d find on a Gatorade label. Does Pocari Sweat have caffeine? Not a bit. Chug away, athletes—this is no Fast Twitch. 

What does Pocari Sweat taste like?

Considering the blue label and colorless liquid, you wouldn’t be crazy for asking, “What does Pocari Sweat taste like?” The drink has a light, sweet citrus flavor which comes from grapefruit juice concentrate. When’s the last time you saw real fruit juice in a hydration drink?

Does Pocari Sweat have electrolytes?

Pocari Sweat is advertised as an “ion supply drink.” Per the FAQ on parent company Otsuka’s website, “Ions are electrolytes.” Yes, Pocari Sweat replenishes electrolytes! I’ll admit, “ion supply” is a much cooler-sounding drink descriptor than “hydration drink” or “sports drink.” On the most scientific level, it replenishes many of the exact elements our bodies release in sweat.

Who owns Pocari Sweat?

Unlike your Gatorades (owned by PepsiCo) and BodyArmors (owned by Coca-Cola), Pocari Sweat is owned by, drumroll please…Otsuka Pharmaceutical. One of their employees had the idea to produce a drinkable IV solution after getting food poisoning on a trip to Mexico in the 1970s. After some trial and error, Pocari Sweat launched in 1980 and has been expanding across the world ever since. In recent years, the brand has been managed in the United States by Crystal Geyser Water Company.