Rice wine join 'Banana Frenzy'

By Lee Han-soo

/ Courtesy of Kooksoondang

• Published Apr 7, 2016 3:11 PM KST
• Updated Apr 7, 2016 3:11 PM KST

The huge success of Orion’s banana-flavored Choco Pie, released last month, has prompted other food industries to follow the banana craze.

While bakeries and healthy food makers have already introduced banana-related products, the rice wine industry is the latest to get on the tropical fruit bandwagon.

Kooksoondang, a major Korean rice wine distributor, said Thursday it will start selling its new banana rice wine in 11 countries Friday. These include Korea, the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan.

Banana puree has been added to the rice fermentation process to bring out the original texture and flavor of the fruit, the company said.

There is speculation the move will spark another frenzy in fruit-flavored alcohol, like that created by Korean traditional drink soju last year.