This famous drink brand is coming to India with a fan base that spans generations across Asia, and it’s a genuinely exciting story for anyone who loves discovering new flavours. A drink that’s been delighting people in Japan since 1919 is finally making its way to Indian shelves, and the journey behind it is worth celebrating.
We’re talking about Calpis — a beloved Japanese lactic acid drink with more than a century of heritage, now ready to win hearts in India.
So What Exactly Is Calpis?
Calpis is a refreshing fermented milk beverage, made by treating skimmed milk with a special blend of beneficial bacteria through a careful two-step fermentation process. The result is a deliciously smooth drink with a sweet and tangy taste — somewhere between a milkshake and a yogurt drink, light and pleasant, even without any carbonation.
It was lovingly created by Kaiun Mishima back in 1919, and it has gone on to become a true cultural favourite in Japan — the kind of drink generations grow up loving and keep coming back to. Over the decades, it has spread to more than ten countries, building a warm and loyal following everywhere it’s gone, mostly across Asia and North America.
Now, after over a hundred wonderful years, this famous drink brand is coming to India, partnering with a name that already understands and loves the Indian market.
The Deal: Japan Meets India’s Biggest Bottler
The company behind Calpis is Asahi Group Holdings, a respected global beverage giant listed on the Tokyo stock exchange. For its India journey, Asahi has chosen to team up with Varun Beverages Limited, known as VBL — the company that proudly bottles and distributes Pepsi across much of India and several other countries.
This is a fantastic match. VBL is PepsiCo’s second-largest bottling partner outside the United States. It runs more than fifty production plants across India and abroad, with a strong distribution network already reaching twenty-seven states and six union territories in India. That’s a company built to bring great drinks straight to your local shop, your college canteen, and your neighbourhood fridge.
Here’s how the partnership works beautifully together: Asahi brings the product expertise — the formula, the technical know-how, everything that makes Calpis taste like Calpis — while its local arm shapes how the brand connects with Indian audiences. VBL brings its manufacturing strength, distribution reach, and sales experience to make sure Calpis reaches as many happy customers as possible.
It’s a smart, well-matched setup. Asahi gains warm access to a market of 1.4 billion people through a trusted, experienced partner. VBL gets to add an exciting, premium, globally loved product to its growing lineup.
Why Now? Why India?
The timing could not be better. India’s non-alcoholic drinks market has grown an impressive 2.3 times in volume over the last ten years. A flourishing middle class with more spending power, a population becoming more mindful about what they drink, and a country of over 1.4 billion people have all helped this market grow beautifully.
For a brand like Calpis, which sits in a lovely sweet spot between a feel-good treat and a health-conscious choice, this is wonderful timing. India already has a deep appreciation for fermented milk drinks, which means there’s a ready and welcoming audience excited to try this new addition.
What Flavours Are Coming?
When Calpis arrives in India in the second half of 2026, it will launch in two delightful flavours: Original and Mango.
Original is the classic, beloved version — that signature sweet-tangy fermented milk taste that has charmed fans in Japan for generations. Mango is a thoughtful nod to Indian taste buds, since mango-flavoured treats are always a hit here, from ice cream to soft drinks to candy.
It’s a great starting lineup — one flavour to share the brand’s rich heritage, and one flavour to feel instantly familiar and local.
A Drink That Fits Right Into India’s Culture
India already has a deep, joyful relationship with fermented milk drinks. There’s lassi at nearly every dhaba and wedding celebration. There’s chaas, the cooling buttermilk drink that’s a summer favourite. There’s shrikhand, a delicious dessert made from strained yogurt. Fermented dairy is already woven warmly into Indian food culture.
That’s actually a wonderful advantage for Calpis. It means Indian consumers won’t need any convincing that a tangy, fermented milk drink can taste amazing — they already know and love that flavour profile from childhood. Calpis simply offers a new, convenient, ready-to-drink way to enjoy something Indians already adore, with its own unique Japanese twist that makes it feel special and worth trying.
How Calpis Fits Alongside Drinks Already on Indian Shelves
Plenty of global drink brands have found a warm welcome in India over the years, especially the ones that added something new to the shelf rather than trying to replace a favourite. Calpis is following that same smart approach.
It’s not positioning itself as a cola replacement or a juice replacement — it’s carving out its own delightful space. It’s a fermented dairy drink that’s light, refreshing, and a lot more convenient than preparing lassi or chaas at home. That kind of fresh, easy option is exactly what many Indian consumers are looking for today.
There’s also a lovely convenience angle here. Homemade lassi or chaas usually means a glass at home or a stop at a roadside stall. A bottled, ready-to-drink option that can sit happily in a supermarket fridge or a college canteen cooler opens the door to a whole new way of enjoying this much-loved flavour — perfect for people on the go.
What This Means for Indian Consumers
If you love trying new drinks, this is genuinely exciting news. Calpis brings something fresh and different to the shelf — not another cola, not another energy drink, not another fruit juice, but a delightful new category for India’s packaged drinks market.
It also reflects something bigger and very positive about where India’s beverage market is heading. International brands are increasingly viewing India as a top-priority market worth building dedicated, long-term partnerships for. When a hundred-year-old Japanese company chooses India as its next major destination and partners with a leading bottling network rather than simply testing the waters, it’s a strong vote of confidence in India’s growing potential.
For VBL, this deal is also a proud milestone beyond bottling Pepsi products. It shows the company is becoming a trusted gateway for global brands looking to enter India.
This partnership also hints at exciting things ahead for VBL. A company that already moves Pepsi, 7UP, Mountain Dew, and Tropicana across the country now has the experience and network to successfully welcome brand-new categories like fermented dairy drinks. If Calpis is the success everyone expects, it could open the door for more heritage and global brands to follow the same path into India.
On Asahi’s side, this move fits a wonderful larger pattern. Japanese companies have been steadily growing their presence in India across many industries — from automobiles to electronics, and now beverages. A market this large, young, and full of promise is one that global companies are excited to be part of.
A Quick Look at the Numbers
To appreciate the scale of this exciting deal:
- Calpis launched in 1919 — that’s over 107 years of cherished history.
- It’s currently enjoyed in more than ten countries.
- VBL operates over 50 production facilities across India and abroad.
- VBL’s distribution proudly covers 27 states and 6 union territories in India.
- India’s non-alcoholic beverage market has grown 2.3 times in volume over the past decade.
These numbers show exactly why this partnership makes such great sense for everyone involved.
Final Thoughts
It’s a special moment when a famous drink brand is coming to India after delighting fans in Japan for more than a hundred years. Calpis carries a rich heritage of taste and trust, and now it’s ready to share that legacy with one of the world’s most exciting and fast-growing beverage markets.
With a heritage brand on one side and India’s leading bottling network on the other, Calpis has every reason to feel right at home here. Indian consumers already love the comforting taste of fermented milk drinks, which means Calpis is arriving to an audience that’s genuinely ready to embrace it.
Keep an eye out for it later this year. Whether you’re someone who loves discovering global flavours or simply curious about what a century-old Japanese drink tastes like, this is one launch well worth getting excited about.
