Dong-A Otsuka has brought back the caffeine drink X Cocas — discontinued in 2011 — roughly 15 years later. The reformulated version uses 100% green tea extract for natural caffeine and the calming amino acid theanine, maintaining the product’s health-forward identity.
On the 29th, food-industry sources said Dong-A Otsuka re-launched Cocas this month and began selling it through its nationwide vending machines. Industry watchers view the move as a response to growing demand among consumers in their teens through their 30s for low-calorie, high-caffeine drinks.
Dong-A Otsuka has long emphasized health across its lineup, with brands like Pocari Sweat, Dejawa, Oronamin C and Confidence. Still, analysts say those offerings alone haven’t been enough to capture the expanding energy-drink market.
Dejawa (55 mg of caffeine) and Oronamin C (about 12 mg) contain small amounts of caffeine but are positioned primarily as a milk tea and a vitamin drink, respectively. Confidence markets itself as a vitality drink but contains no caffeine.
The relaunched Cocas increases volume from the earlier roughly 100 mL bottle to a 355 mL can. Distribution is being limited to specialized channels such as vending machines rather than general outlets like convenience stores or large supermarkets, and it’s also being sold through select e-commerce platforms.
