Let's dive back into the hilarious saga of Takanori Nishikawa and Taiwan's iconic "Chin Chin Asparagus Juice." After performing the theme song and voicing the character Rō Fūyō for the "Thunderbolt Fantasy: Bewitching Melody of the West" movie premiere (part of the 10-year Taiwan-Japan collaborative puppet series) on February 14, 2025, and the "Fan Appreciation Festival" on February 15, Nishikawa-san took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his curiosity about "Chin Chin Asparagus Juice." But wait, there's more! He then stumbled upon another gem from the "Chin Chin" lineup – and this time, it wasn't the juice. It was "Chin Chin Asparagus Beer," a drink so rare even many Taiwanese might not have seen it!
While Chin Chin Asparagus Juice is a household name for most Taiwanese – even if you haven't tasted it, you've definitely heard of it – the "Chin Chin Asparagus Beer," complete with its own blonde bombshell on the label, is a whole different story. Apparently, this unique brew was a 2024 crossover collaboration between Chin Chin Asparagus Juice and Jim & Dad's Brewing Company.
According to Jim & Dad's on their Instagram, the beer base uses traditional Belgian wheat beer brewing techniques, incorporating a moderate amount of Taiwanese raw wheat. This unique blend combines the distinctive flavor of Chin Chin Asparagus Juice, resulting in a truly one-of-a-kind taste from this cross-industry collaboration. Word on the street is it's incredibly refreshing and worth savoring!
Of course, perhaps because this collaborative drink was released relatively recently, many Taiwanese only learned about "Chin Chin Asparagus Beer" thanks to Nishikawa-san's viral share. Comments poured in, with people exclaiming, "As a Taiwanese, this is my first time seeing this!" and "Wait, Chin Chin Asparagus Juice has a beer now?!" In a way, we might just have the "Sensei" to thank for this delightful new discovery!