From cold curry sauce to garlic sweets, this summer sees the launch of weird and wonderful products aimed at beating the season¡¯s intense heat. Here are but a few:

: This revolutionary product developed by the has been making waves on the web as Japanese get their heads round the mindboggling concept of cold okonomiyaki. Made in the Kansai style, it contains strips of meat and cabbage with a special ponzu-based sauce and dried bonito?flakes on top. It has a lighter texture than your average stodgy okonomiyaki, making it easy summer eating. Because you don¡¯t need to use a microwave to make it, it also helps you do your bit for setsuden (power saving).

: This chilled sauce is designed to be poured on top of cold noodles. The concept of chilled curry sauce for noodles was introduced by Yamasa last year, so the fact that House Foods has jumped on the bandwagon this year proves that the concept has staying power.

:?Containing plum, salt and garlic, we¡¯re guessing these candies are not for the faint of heart. However, the ingredients are purported to counteract the effects of heatstroke, so I suppose it¡¯s worth sucking on one of these when temps become unbearable. We love the picture of a burly builder on the front of black packaging that gives the product a macho vibe.

: Released by Mister Donut in June, these doughnut-shaped jellies come in four refreshing flavors: strawberry, coffee, pineapple and grape. Alongside these wobbly treats, Mister Donut is also really pushing the chilled doughnut concept this season (normal doughnut stuck in a fridge), which we¡¯ve seen gradually gathering momentum in Japanese donut outlets over the past few years.

: Despite the fact that refreshing menthol products are trending right now,? gave this beverage a test run and came back with the verdict that the experience of drinking it is ¡°akin to swallowing 350ml of carbonated Listerine.¡± Have you given it a shot?