When it comes to the venerable world of Japanese alcohol, there is nothing quite so humble or quite as beloved as chu-hi. Chu-hi are a category of Japanese cocktail made from mixing a fruit juice, traditionally lemon, with shochu and club soda. While chu-hi is a staple of the bar world, it truly grew into an independent phenomenon with the introduction of canned chu-hi.
To get the true chu-hi experience, walk into a Japanese grocery or convenience store and gaze at the huge myriad of options before you in the refrigerated paradise. Yet despite the wide range of chu-hi varieties and flavors, the vast majority are made by just four companies: Suntory, Sapporo, Asahi, and Kirin.
Chu-hi are available in standard can sizes, but are almost always side-by-side with their larger "tallboy" counterpoint. Chu-hi is often marketed with a higher alcoholic percentage, usually 7% to 9%, but can be as low as 3%. They rarely go over 9%, as after that they run the risk of hitting a higher alcohol tax bracket.
If beer and sake aren’t quite your thing, and wine and whisky don’t really wet your whistle, chu-hi might just be the drink to explore when it comes to Japanese alcohol. Especially during the summer days, chu-hi is the perfect accompaniment to grilling out in nature, relaxing with friends, or taking the edge off on a humid summer night.
About the author:
Michael Bugajski
Michael is originally from Chicago, IL in the United States, but has lived in Japan for seven years in Niigata and Hokkaido. He is an avid home chef, baker, and coffee enthusiast, but his one true love is ramen. Ever in pursuit of the perfect bowl of noodles, you can always find him by listening for the tell-tale slurp of ramen being enjoyed!
Mighty Wookie 72
November 05, 2023
This takes me back nearly 26 years ago when I was stationed on the Kitty Hawk. Our routine inport was head straight to the 7/11, grab 2 or 3 Chu-Hi, and start our night which always ended at a Beef Bowl joint. We did it so much, they called us the Chu-Hi crew.