REVIEW: Pepsi Strong Shot

When I first received the Pepsi Strong Shot from Japan, I instantly noticed the five warnings printed all over it. But because my ability to read Japanese is so poor that my college Japanese professors should deeply bow their heads in shame for passing my Japanese illiterate ass, I didn’t know what they were warning me about.

Perhaps the can contains an evil tengu. Or a tentacled demon that wants to stick its tentacles in every single one of my orifices to torture me. Or maybe it’s a Pokemon. Or perhaps it’s telling me I watch too much anime at Crunchyroll.

After doing some research on the internets, I learned the warnings on the Pepsi Strong Shot tell potential drinkers that it’s HIGHLY CARBONATED and we should wait 15 seconds before opening it.

Really? Honto ni?

Does extra carbonation really warrant the five warnings printed on the can that’s four and a half inches tall? Because, seriously, the best case scenario from opening the can would be thirst quenching. The worst case scenario? A little more burping.

However, if the can’s warnings said it contained a tentacled demon, I believe the multiple warnings would be justified. Because the worst case scenario from opening the can would be a tentacle entering every hole in my body at the same time. The best case scenario? A tentacle entering every hole in my body at the same time, but leaving a three dollar tip after it’s done.

The Pepsi Strong Shot not only contains extra carbonation, it also includes extra caffeine. However, I’m not sure how much caffeine, since, again, I’m quite illiterate when it comes to Japanese. But I did get a small energy boost from it. Although, I have to admit, tentacles slithering into every hole in my head would do a better job of waking me up.

Even with a small energy boost, the Pepsi Strong Shot isn’t worth it, whether you pay 120 yen for a can in Japan or five dollars a can plus shipping via eBay from an expat living in Japan. It tastes just like regular Pepsi and the extra carbonation is probably the worst Japan Pepsi gimmick ever. I expected something spectacular from the company that developed cucumber and baobab flavored sodas.

The only thing the extra carbonation did was provide a little more pressure than usual when opening the can. If I want a Pepsi that provides a little more pressure when opening it, I’ll just get a regular can of Pepsi and shake it a bit. Even after it explodes, it’ll still probably have more soda left than what’s in the Pepsi Strong Shot’s small can.

(Nutrition Facts – 100 ml – 47 kcal, 0 grams of protein, 0 grams of fat, 10 milligrams of sodium, 11.7 grams of carbohydrates.)

(NOTE: Thanks to Orchid64 from Japanese Snack Reviews for sending me the Pepsi Strong Shot.)

Item: Pepsi Strong Shot
Price: 120 yen (about $1.35 US)
Size: 190 ml
Purchased at: A store in Japan
Rating: 4 out of 10
Pros: Tastes like regular Pepsi. Caffeine gave me a small energy boost. 0 grams of fat. Tentacled demons leaving a tip. Crunchyroll.
Cons: Nothing spectacular from the company that made cucumber and baobab flavored sodas. Extra carbonation is the worst Pepsi Japan gimmick ever. Excessive amount of unnecessary warnings. A demon’s tentacle entering every hole in my body at the same time. Available only in Japan. Being Japanese illiterate despite 2.5 years of college Japanese.

11 thoughts to “REVIEW: Pepsi Strong Shot”

  1. Don’t feel guilty, I lived in Okinawa for two years and never tried to learn the language at all. At least you made an effort by taking classes.

  2. The warning doesn’t even make sense – 15 seconds longer than what? I mean, the cans are sitting around for days before someone opens them as it is. I’m sure it’s just a promotional thing but cmon, a little thought here advertisers!

  3. @JamieSusan Alot has been my desktop background for months. I <3 him.

    Hmm, I might be willing to try this..I don't like the taste of most energy drinks..a pepsi flavored one might not be too bad.

  4. @Orchid64: Actually, you didn’t review it, so I don’t think it’s possible to say I did a better job. If you reviewed it, you might’ve written the GREATEST REVIEW EVER and I would read it and say to myself, “Damn, that’s one great review. I’m going to go cry now” and then close The Impulsive Buy forever. But since you won’t review it, I will never experience that.

    @Chuck: Actually, I was required by the university to take two years of foreign language, so I really didn’t make the effort. I was forced.

    @JamieSusan: Alot is totally lovable. Thanks a lot! Oh my God, I just chopped off Alot’s head in the previous sentence.

    @coren: Sometimes the Japanese don’t make any sense and I think that’s what makes them lovable, along with their schoolgirl uniforms.

    @Natalie: No energy drink taste, Pepsi all the way.

    @amanda: I really shouldn’t blame my professors. I should be blaming my desire to pass each class with just a low C grade and doing the bare minimum to pass.

  5. @coren: Sometimes the Japanese don’t make any sense and I think that’s what makes them lovable, along with their schoolgirl uniforms.

    ^ that quote and being is awful. Yes, I’m sure the general population don’t make any sense and therefore just pantomime to one another as a form of communication because they can’t make sense to one other. Thierefore, only confirms the replication of Pokemon characters you correlate them to be. Please do me the favor and never come here to Japan and don’t ever breed.

    The quantity goes as follows

    Carbohydrates: 13.9 grams
    Sodium: 3 milligrams
    Caffeine: 19 milligrams

    1. Oh my…there’s nothing funnier to me than someone getting hyperbolically upset while displaying complete lack of understanding of what they’re raging about. They make such a wonderful spectacle of themselves. Thanks for the amusement today.

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