Calpis

Calpis (カルピス, Karupisu?) is a Japanese uncarbonated soft drink, manufactured by Calpis Co., Ltd. (カルピス株式会社, Karupisu Kabushiki-gaisha?) (TYO: 2591 ), headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. The beverage has a light, somewhat milky, and slightly acidic flavor (it can be likened somewhat to vanilla yogurt). Its ingredients include water, nonfat dry milk, and lactic acid, and is produced by lactic fermentation.

The drink 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, are also available. It is also used to flavour kakigori (shaved ice dessert) and as a mixer for cocktails and chuhai.

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, which was traditional seen as the start of the summer and the day Calpis was first sold.

(taken from wikipedia.com)