Sarsi (drink)
Encyclopedia
Sarsi is a sarsaparilla
based soft drink
sold in Taiwan
, the Philippines
and other Southeast Asia
n countries. It is similar to root beer
.
in most fast food chains. Sarsi, then owned by Cosmos Bottling Corporation (owned by the RFM corporation), are now both owned by Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc., a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation
. Its main competitor is Mug
from Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. Their wide distribution to supermarkets and sari-sari stores
, and their pricing made them the most available, and hence most-popular. Sarsi can be found in many Filipino stores.
In[Taiwan, the "HeySong Sarsi" (黑松沙士，BlackPine Sarsaparilla) is also known as the "Faygo of Taiwan". It is bottled by the HeySong Corporation in Taipei
.
The HeySong Sarsaparilla beverage is available in three flavor variations:
In Hong Kong
, Sarsae is distributed by AS Watson where it is sold in a can.
The drink was the central plot device
of a 1985 film called It's a Drink, It's a Bomb (starring George Lam
, John Sham and Maggie Cheung
), about a hand grenade
disguised as a Sarsae cola. Its explosive power is activated once its ringpull is released.
In Malaysia, F&N Coca-Cola (M) Sdn Bhd, makes and distributes the only sarsi drink in the country. It is available in 330ml aluminium cans and 1.5litre plastic bottles.
However recently, Tesco have released their own brand of sarsi, available in their supermarkets.
, Wonderfarm, a household brand owned by Interfood Shareholding Company, produces and distributes a sarsi drink under the 'zizy' trademark. The zizy sarsi drink has cherry flavour added. Sarsi is spelled xá xị in Vietnamese
.
Sarsi drink of Chuong Duong Beverages Joint Stock Company is very famous in Vietnam.
, the only sarsi drink is called Hi-Mark, by Green Spot
.
Sarsaparilla
is a perennial trailing vine with prickly stems that is native to Central America. Common names include Sarsaparilla , Honduran Sarsaparilla, and Jamaican Sarsaparilla...
based soft drink
Soft drink
A soft drink is a non-alcoholic beverage that typically contains water , a sweetener, and a flavoring agent...
sold in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and other Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
n countries. It is similar to root beer
Root beer
Root beer is a carbonated, sweetened beverage, originally made using the root of a sassafras plant as the primary flavor. Root beer, popularized in North America, comes in two forms: alcoholic and soft drink. The historical root beer was analogous to small beer in that the process provided a drink...
.
Philippines
In the Philippines, it is the most popular root beer brand on the market. It replaced Barq'sBarq's
-External links:* - Official website* - The History of Root Beer...
in most fast food chains. Sarsi, then owned by Cosmos Bottling Corporation (owned by the RFM corporation), are now both owned by Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc., a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation
San Miguel Corporation
Established in 1890 as a brewery, San Miguel Corporation is Southeast Asia's largest publicly listed food, beverage and packaging company with over 17,000 employees in over 100 major facilities throughout the Asia-Pacific....
. Its main competitor is Mug
Mug Root Beer
Mug Root Beer is a brand name of root beer made by the Pepsi company.Mug was first produced by the Belfast Beverage Company in San Francisco, California during the early 1950s. Its name was changed to Mug Old Fashioned Root Beer. In the late 1960s, Sugar Free Mug was introduced...
from Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. Their wide distribution to supermarkets and sari-sari stores
Sari-sari store
A sari-sari store is a convenience store found in the Philippines. The word sari-sari is Tagalog meaning "variety". Such stores form an important economic and social location in a Filipino community. It is present in almost all neighborhoods, sometimes even in every street. Most sari-sari stores...
, and their pricing made them the most available, and hence most-popular. Sarsi can be found in many Filipino stores.
Taiwan
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
.
The HeySong Sarsaparilla beverage is available in three flavor variations:
- Regular - Regular Sarsi flavor.
- Sweetie Energy - Sweet and mellow, rather like A&WA&W Root BeerA&W Root Beer is a brand of root beer, primarily available in the United States and Canada, that was started in 1919 by Roy Allen. In 1922, Allen partnered with Frank Wright. They combined their initials to create the brand "A&W" and inspired a restaurant chain which was founded 1922. The first A&W...
cream sodaCream sodaCream soda is a sweet carbonated soft drink, often flavored with vanilla.-History and development:A recipe for cream soda—written by E.M. Sheldon and published in Michigan Farmer in 1852—called for water, cream of tartar, Epsom salts, sugar, tartaric acid, egg, and milk, to be mixed together, then...
, but with added guaranaGuaranaGuarana , Paullinia cupana, syn. P. crysan, P. sorbilis) is a climbing plant in the maple family, Sapindaceae, native to the Amazon basin and especially common in Brazil. Guarana features large leaves and clusters of flowers, and is best known for its fruit, which is about the size of a coffee bean...
extract. - Salty - Significantly more salty and bitter aftertaste, like Barq'sBarq's-External links:* - Official website* - The History of Root Beer...
rootbeer in the USUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Sarsae is distributed by AS Watson where it is sold in a can.
The drink was the central plot device
Plot device
A plot device is an object or character in a story whose sole purpose is to advance the plot of the story, or alternatively to overcome some difficulty in the plot....
of a 1985 film called It's a Drink, It's a Bomb (starring George Lam
George Lam
George Lam Chi Cheung, also known professionally by his surname Lam, is a Hong Kong-based veteran Cantopop singer and actor of Xinhui area origin. Lam studied at the Diocesan Boys' School in Kowloon, Hong Kong...
, John Sham and Maggie Cheung
Maggie Cheung
Maggie Cheung Man yuk is a Chinese actress from Hong Kong. Raised in England and Hong Kong, she has over 70 films to her credit since starting her career in 1983...
), about a hand grenade
Hand grenade
A hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
disguised as a Sarsae cola. Its explosive power is activated once its ringpull is released.
Malaysia
However recently, Tesco have released their own brand of sarsi, available in their supermarkets.
Vietnam
In VietnamVietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, Wonderfarm, a household brand owned by Interfood Shareholding Company, produces and distributes a sarsi drink under the 'zizy' trademark. The zizy sarsi drink has cherry flavour added. Sarsi is spelled xá xị in Vietnamese
Vietnamese language
Vietnamese is the national and official language of Vietnam. It is the mother tongue of 86% of Vietnam's population, and of about three million overseas Vietnamese. It is also spoken as a second language by many ethnic minorities of Vietnam...
.
Sarsi drink of Chuong Duong Beverages Joint Stock Company is very famous in Vietnam.
Thailand
In ThailandThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, the only sarsi drink is called Hi-Mark, by Green Spot
Green Spot (soft drink)
Green Spot is a non-carbonated non caffeinated orange-based soft drink that is sold in Venezuela, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries....
.