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POKKA’s history begins with Toshikage Tanida, a Japanese entrepreneur from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.

In 1957, Tanida established Nikka Lemon Co., Ltd., initially focusing on lemon beverages. The company’s development was influenced by Tanida’s experience operating a bar. He noticed that lemon-based drinks were popular but fresh lemons were relatively expensive and difficult to obtain in Japan at the time. This encouraged him to develop convenient lemon products.4

The company later changed its name to POKKA Lemon Co., Ltd. in 1966.

The POKKA name itself has an unusual origin. According to the company’s own history, Tanida encountered the word “Knickerbocker” in a golf magazine and began playing with the sound of the word, eventually arriving at “Pokka.” The name was subsequently incorporated into the company’s identity.5

Although POKKA began with lemon products, it gradually expanded into other categories.

A major turning point came in 1972, when the company launched POKKA 100 Lemon, a 100% lemon juice product, alongside its canned coffee.6

The company’s canned coffee was particularly significant.

During a winter drive from Nagoya to Osaka, Tanida noticed drivers drinking cold beverages despite the freezing conditions. This led him to consider whether hot coffee could be made available conveniently while people were travelling. The idea eventually resulted in POKKA’s hot-and-cold beverage vending machines, introduced in 1973.7

This was an important part of POKKA’s identity: it wasn’t simply selling drinks, but also developing new ways for consumers to access ready-to-drink beverages.

POKKA’s relationship with Singapore began in 1977, when POKKA CORPORATION (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD. was established at Chin Bee Road.2

The Singapore factory initially produced POKKA canned coffee.

Over subsequent decades, POKKA Singapore expanded its manufacturing and product portfolio, moving from coffee into tea, juice, isotonic drinks, carbonated beverages and other categories.

Singapore eventually became much more than simply an overseas market. POKKA Singapore now manages POKKA’s international business outside Japan, giving the Singapore operation a significant role within the wider POKKA organization.1

One of POKKA’s most important products in Singapore is green tea, particularly POKKA Jasmine Green Tea.

The company launched its Jasmine Green Tea in 1998 in cans, followed by a bottled version in 2000.8

This product became strongly associated with the POKKA brand in Singapore.

POKKA’s tea portfolio has subsequently expanded to include products such as:

• Jasmine Green Tea
• Japanese Green Tea / Sencha
• Oolong Tea
• Houjicha
• Chrysanthemum Tea
• Peach Oolong Tea
• Lychee Oolong Tea
• Ice Lemon Tea
• Ice Peach Tea
• Premium tea products

The current Singapore portfolio also includes no-sugar and reduced-sugar variants.7

POKKA fits particularly well into Singapore’s highly developed ready-to-drink beverage culture.

Its products are designed for convenience: consumers can buy them from supermarkets, convenience stores, vending machines, food outlets and other retail channels without preparation.

The company’s Singapore operation describes POKKA as a leader in the RTD market and identifies RTD green tea, coffee and non-chilled juice drinks among its leading categories.9

POKKA’s historical connection with vending machines is also notable. The company says there are more than 700 POKKA vending machines in Singapore, illustrating how important vending has remained to its distribution model.10

Today, POKKA is considerably broader than its original lemon-beverage business.

Tea

Tea is arguably the brand’s most recognizable category in Singapore.

Examples include:

• Jasmine Green Tea
• Japanese Green Tea
• Oolong Tea
• Houjicha
• Chrysanthemum Tea
• Peach Oolong Tea
• Lychee Oolong Tea
• Premium Afternoon Tea
• Ice Lemon Tea
• Ice Peach Tea

POKKA emphasizes authentic brewing and Japanese-inspired tea products.11

Coffee

Coffee is another historically important category.

POKKA’s Japanese operation launched canned coffee in 1972, making it one of the company’s earliest major innovations in RTD beverages. Its Singapore range has included products such as Milk Coffee, Premium Milk Coffee and other coffee drinks.12

Juice

Juice remains connected to POKKA’s original lemon heritage.

The company’s portfolio includes fruit-based beverages as well as products such as Pokka 100 Lemon and Sparklin’ Fuji Apple.13

Isotonic and functional beverages

POKKA also sells beverages intended for hydration and active lifestyles, including isotonic and functional drinks.14

Milk beverages

The portfolio includes milk-based drinks, particularly coffee and tea products.17

Asian beverages

POKKA also produces drinks inspired by traditional Asian flavours, including products such as chrysanthemum and other tea-based beverages.15

Water and sparkling drinks

The current portfolio additionally includes water and sparkling beverages.16

POKKA is ultimately part of the Sapporo Group, the Japanese corporate group best known internationally for Sapporo beer.

The relationship developed in stages.

In 2009, POKKA Corporation formed a capital and business alliance with Sapporo Holdings. Sapporo subsequently increased its ownership, and POKKA became a consolidated subsidiary.18

In 2013, POKKA Corporation and Sapporo Beverage were integrated to form POKKA SAPPORO Food & Beverage Ltd.19

Today, POKKA SAPPORO Food & Beverage is responsible for food and soft-drink businesses within the Sapporo Group, while POKKA Singapore operates as an important international arm of the brand.20

POKKA Singapore is somewhat unusual within the POKKA organization because it isn’t merely a local distributor.

According to the company’s current description, POKKA Singapore manages the POKKA business in Singapore as well as international markets outside Japan.21

This makes Singapore a kind of international hub for POKKA.

The company has developed distribution and logistics capabilities that support its overseas expansion, while maintaining manufacturing and quality standards under the guidance of the Japanese parent organization.22

POKKA products are sold across numerous international markets, with the company’s current Singapore site stating a presence in 40+ countries.23

POKKA’s current brand philosophy revolves around “Genuine Vitality For Life.”

The idea is that beverages should not simply provide refreshment, but should contribute to people’s everyday vitality and lifestyles.

The company emphasizes:

• Quality
• Authentic ingredients
• Innovation
• Convenience
• Health and wellness
• Continuous improvement

Its wellness positioning has become increasingly visible through zero-sugar and reduced-sugar products. POKKA also highlights products carrying Singapore’s Healthier Choice Symbol.7

Health-conscious products have become an increasingly important part of POKKA’s portfolio.

The company describes its objective as providing beverages that combine taste with healthier choices, rather than positioning health and enjoyment as mutually exclusive.7

Its current range includes:

• No-sugar green teas
• No-sugar Japanese teas
• Reduced-sugar teas
• Reduced-sugar milk coffee
• Reduced-sugar sparkling drinks
• Functional/isotonic beverages

This is particularly relevant to Singapore, where the government has encouraged reductions in sugar consumption and promoted healthier beverage choices.

POKKA products appearing on Singapore’s Health Promotion Board’s Healthier Choice Symbol list include several tea, coffee and other beverage products.23

24

POKKA’s identity is essentially a combination of Japanese beverage heritage and Singaporean market success.

Japanese heritage

The brand originated from Japanese food-and-beverage innovation, particularly around lemon products, canned coffee and vending technology.

Singapore identity

Despite being Japanese in origin, POKKA has become deeply embedded in Singapore’s beverage landscape. Its green tea, coffee and other drinks are common everyday beverages in Singapore.

RTD specialization

Rather than focusing primarily on restaurants or freshly prepared beverages, POKKA has built its business around ready-to-drink convenience.

Broad portfolio

The brand has evolved from a lemon specialist into a diversified beverage company covering tea, coffee, juice, functional beverages, milk drinks, water and sparkling beverages.

Health-conscious evolution

The introduction and promotion of zero- and reduced-sugar products reflects the changing expectations of modern consumers.25

As of 2026, POKKA can be understood as a Japanese-origin, Singapore-centered international RTD beverage brand operating within the Sapporo Group.

Its strongest identity remains associated with everyday beverages—particularly green tea, coffee and juice—while its portfolio increasingly emphasizes wellness and reduced-sugar choices.

POKKA Singapore describes itself as a market leader in several RTD categories and says its products are available in 40+ countries.23

The parent company’s broader philosophy also increasingly focuses on using ingredients such as lemons and other plant-based ingredients to create value beyond taste.20

In short, POKKA has gone through three major transformations:

Lemon beverage maker → Japanese RTD beverage innovator → Singapore-based international beverage brand

That evolution is probably the most important thing to understand about POKKA: while its roots are Japanese, its modern international identity is strongly shaped by Singapore.

1. POKKA Who We Are
2. POKKA Singapore establishes a new five-storey state-of-the-art building that will bring the company into the next decade and beyond
3. Pokka History
4. COMPANY PROFILE
5. Company｜POKKA SAPPORO Food & Beverage
6. POKKA Products
7. Our Wellness
8. Message from the President & Corporate Philosophy｜POKKA SAPPORO Food & Beverage
9. POKKA PTE. LTD. (197700135E) – Singapore Company
10. Speech by MOS Low Yen Ling at POKKA Headquarters Groundbreaking Ceremony | Ministry of Trade and Industry
11. POKKA Singapore establishes a new five-storey state-of-the-art building that will bring the company into the next decade and beyond | Singapore EDB
12. Markets – Singapore | POKKA Singapore
13. ポッカサッポロフード＆ビバレッジ株式会社に関するお知らせ｜ニュースリリース | 企業情報｜ポッカサッポロフード＆ビバレッジ
14. POKKA Family
15. POKKA
16. POKKA
17. Our Products – Milk l POKKA Singapore
18. POKKA Who We Are
19. POKKA Singapore | Healthy Ready-To-Drink Beverages
20. English｜POKKA SAPPORO Food & Beverage
21. ポッカコーヒー | ポッカサッポロ
22. 「ポッカコーヒー」はいつ発売されたのですか？｜ よくあるご質問 ｜ ポッカサッポロ
23. Pokka | All The Latest Products | NTUC FairPrice
24. POKKA PTE. LTD. (197700135E) – MANUF OF BEVERAGES – Singapore Company
25. POKKA PTE LTD | LinkedIn