Capital Fizz: Sipping Up Arctic Ocean, Beijing's Iconic Orange Soda

Although it’s a little embarrassing for me to admit, until a few weeks ago I didn’t know Ice Peak (冰峰 Bingfeng) and Arctic Ocean (北冰洋 Beibingyang) were two different sodas. Either because of the similar classic glass bottles they both come in, or the fact they both have the Chinese character for ice – 冰 bīng – in their names, I never truly could tell the difference until tasting both side-by-side.

This little taste test sold me on Arctic Ocean. The Beijing-based company says their soda is made from real juice made from oranges grown in the capital, which may account for its markedly light and crisp flavor profile. Ice Peak, which hails from nearby Shaanxi Province, feels like a weak Fanta knock-off by comparison.

Delving a little deeper into Arctic Ocean – Beibingyang in Chinese – the brand’s story is that of a true underdog. Began in 1936 in the Beiping Ice Factory, the soda was popular among Beijing locals well into the 1980s, when it served as a cheaper alternative to Western brands like Coca-Cola, which were considered luxury items at the time.

In 1994 the company signed a joint venture deal with US-based Pepsi Co. Pepsi eventually tried axing Arctic Ocean altogether, leading to its disappearance from Chinese store shelves for years.

Arctic Ocean’s fortunes changed for the better in 2011, when it was brought back by a Chinese firm. The company saw a surge in sales since the comeback, reporting a 100 percent increase in sales in 2014, according to a China Daily report in 2015. The paper even reported that Arctic Ocean ran out of stock that year, with sales volume going beyond that of glass bottles of Coke and Pepsi in the capital.

Since that fateful year, the company has released a number of different flavors, like loquat, lemon, and plum. Plus, to keep the nostalgia going and to perhaps jump on the "daka" bandwagon, last year also saw the opening of a brand flagship store in north Beijing (which has since expanded to two more locations).

Based in a culture and creative park in Haidian District, the store – named Beiping Ice Factory for the brand’s old namesake – features a first floor shop which not only sells the iconic soda itself, but also boasts house made juice and tea drinks with names like “Arctic Island” and “True Orange”; bear claw-shaped popsicles; and even yogurt, cakes, and bread.

Head up the second floor and you can score some Beibingyang swag and take some selfies in rooms filled with old school television sets decked out in orange and other set pieces.

From its humble origins ice factory origins to now, Arctic Ocean is a Beijing classic worth getting to know. As can be attested by its popularity and loyal fanbase, it’s worth all the local love.

Beiping Ice Factory 北平制冰厂
25 Huayuan North Road, Haidian District
海淀区花园北路25号

READ: Keep Your Glass Half-Full and the Heat Half-Empty with Beijing's Best Summer Drinks

Images: Vincent R. Vinci, China Daily, hacos.cn, Beijing Eat Too Much Team