Bacchus-F
{{Short description|South Korean energy drink}}
File:Bacchus logo (English).png
Bacchus ({{langx|ko|박카스}}) is a non-carbonated South Korean energy drink, launched in 1963 and manufactured by Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., part of the Dong-A Socio Group. Its two variants Bacchus-D and Bacchus-F have been popular in South Korea for many years.
In the United States it is distributed by Dong-A America Corporation in a 3.3 oz glass bottle (approximately 1/3 the size of a Red Bull).{{in lang|ko}} [http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?s=K&i=288132&v=43 Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610005646/http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?s=K&i=288132&v=43 |date=2011-06-10 }} at Encyclopedia of Korean Culture
Ingredients
Bacchus contains the following ingredients:[http://www.kgrocer.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=384 KGROCER.com - Ingredients]
- Water
- High fructose corn syrup
- Sugar
- Taurine
- Inositol
- Guarana extract
- Royal jelly
- Nicotinamide
- Pyridoxine HCl
- Riboflavin sodium phosphate
- Thiamine
- Nitrate preserved with sodium benzoate
- Ethanol
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Sorbitol
- Apple juice
- Sodium chloride
- Natural essences (orange pineapple, strawberry)
- Artificial flavor
History
Bacchus was developed with a strong influence from Lipovitan-D, by Kang Shinho, who had studied medicine in Germany in the 1950s. He named the product Bacchus after the Roman god of wine, of which he had seen a statue inside of the Hamburg City Hall. Bacchus was introduced in 1961 as a tablet ({{Korean|hangul=박카스-정|labels=no}}), sold in pharmacies as an 'herbal medicine' to prevent colds and cure hangovers.
In 1963 Kang turned it into a drink.[http://german.korea.net/NewsFocus/Business/view?articleId=122744 Bacchus, ein Dauer-Verkaufsschlager mit Kultcharakter], Korea.net, November 10, 2014.
In particular Bacchus-F, with its higher content of 2000 mg of Taurine, has been a favourite of Korean university students.{{in lang|ko}} [https://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2010042314301772878 The nation's drink at the pharmacy], Asia Economics, 2010-04-23. Retrieved 2010-06-27.
With the worldwide rise of energy drinks as fashionable mixers in alcoholic drinks like Vodka-Red Bull, Bacchus also has gained a place in American culture. The most common form of consumption is the "Bacchus Bomb", which is produced by pouring a full 3.3 oz bottle of Bacchus into a cup and subsequently dropping a shot glass filled with vodka into the cup, with the resulting mixture being consumed as rapidly as possible.{{in lang|ko}} [http://krdic.naver.com/detail.nhn?docid=4834&kind=newword&re=y Bacchus bomb drink] at Doosan Encyclopedia{{in lang|ko}} [http://www.cbs.co.kr/Nocut/Show.asp?IDX=1179910 New bomb drinks], No Cut News, 2009-06-18. Retrieved 2010-06-27.
In popular culture
The Bacchus Lady is a South Korean film that was presented in the Panorama section of the 66th Berlin International Film Festival. The film depicts the life of an elderly Bacchus Lady, which is a Korean prostitute selling the Bacchus energy drink.
In the 2009 Korean film Mother, directed by Bong Joon-ho, the protagonist is given a bottle of insecticide by his mother in a Bacchus bottle as a child.
References
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