Starbucks Japan 47 Jimoto Frappuccino

We here at Japan Australia are huge fans of Starbucks Frappuccinos. Theses icy cold blended frozen drinks are perfect for the hot summers in Japan.

For a limited time only, Starbucks Coffee Japan will release 47 new Frappuccino drinks, one for each of the 47 prefectures in Japan. The drinks will feature local ingredients to help strengthen its ties with local communities.

The Seattle-based coffee chain come up with the idea to help celebrate the 25^th anniversary of its first foray into the Japanese market. The first Starbucks open in the upmarket Ginza district of Tokyo in 1996.

The special lineup is called “47 Jimoto Frappuccino”. Jimoto means hometown in Japanese. Baristas will be drawing on local expertise throughout Japan to bring special flavours and combinations that are the pride of each local area. The Frappuccinos are inspired by the local food and culture of each area. 

Some of the Frappuccinos that instantly catch the eye include:

Miyagi Prefecture, which is famous for zunda (sweet edamame paste). This drink features sweetened mashed edamame paste and matcha green tea.

Tottori Prefecture, which is famous for its sand dunes. Baristas created a creamy caramel drink that resembles the famous sand dunes.

Aichi Prefecture, which is famous for Ogura toast (thickly sliced toast topped with sweet red bean paste). This Nagoya specialty comes to life as a frappuccino with sweet red bean sauce, coffee, chocolate chips, and whipped cream.

Starbucks 47 JImoto Frappuccino will be available from June 30 to August 3, in a tall size only for 682 yen (USD$6.20).

Which flavour would you like to try? Please leave your answer in the comments below. 

Visit the Starbucks Coffee Japan website for more details. 

 

 

Spring Goodies in Japan for 2021

 

Spring is fast approaching, and I am getting excited about the promise of warmer weather and tasty new treats to try. There are usually a lot of sakura (cherry blossom) inspired goodies to try at this time of the year on the supermarket and convenience store shelves.

A few of my favourites from previous years include Haagen Dazs Sakura Ice Cream, Cherry Blossom Yoghurt and the limited-edition offerings from Starbuck’s Japan.

In 2021, we have a new Sakura Latte to try as well as Lipton Sakura Tea Latte and Kraft Sakura Mochi Dessert Cheese.

Let’s start with the new Sakura Latte from Mt. Rainer, which is on sale for 150 yen (USD$1.43). The Sakura Latte features coffee made from 100% Arabica beans with cherry blossom extract added to the mix for the perfect taste of spring.

Sakura Latte

 

While I am not a huge milk tea drinker, the next offering from Lipton really caught my eye. The Sakura Tea Latte which you can pick up for 128 yen (USD$1.22) is made with 100 percent Kenyan tea with a subtle cherry blossom taste. 

Lipton Sakura Tea Latte

 

Every spring, my go to cherry blossom treat is sakura mochi, which is a Japanese sweet consisting of a pink coloured mochi (rice cake) with a red bean paste center, all wrapped in a cherry blossom leaf. This year we have the Sakura Mochi Dessert Cheese from Kraft to try. Called Mochi Mochi Sakura, it has glutinous powder added to give the cheese a sakura mochi-like texture. The dessert cheese comes in a six-pack and retails for 320 yen (USD$3.05).

Kraft Sakura Mochi Dessert Cheese

 

Which one of these tasty cherry blossom spring treats caught your eye for the upcoming cherry blossom season?

Starbucks Japan Cherry Blossom Drinks 2019

Starbucks Japan have just released news of their 2019 limited-edition sakura cherry blossom drinks. This is news that we at Japan Australia look forward to every year as it is a sure tell sign that spring is on its way. The Japan only sakura drinks not only always taste great, but are a great prelude to the upcoming cherry blossom season in Japan.

You can follow all the latest news and updates about the cherry blossom forecast by following Japan Travel Advice, who recently published their annual 2019 Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Forecast for Japan. Check it out and start planning your hanami parties now.

This year, we can look forward to Starbucks Full Sakura Milk Latte and Full Sakura Frappuccino.

Starbucks Sakura Latte and Frappuccino 

This year Starbucks is combining two popular pink flavours, cherry blossom and strawberries with a theme “Sakura Mankai Moments – Full Blooming All Around You”. “Mankai” means “full bloom” in Japanese with inspiration for the drinks taken from the cherry blossoms in full bloom.

The Full Sakura Milk Latte is designed to represent that special moment in spring when a gentle wind blows through the trees and the soft cherry blossom petals slowly fall to the ground. The drink has a light sakura flavor and is topped with whipped cream and strawberry chocolate shavings and chocolate sakura flavoured petals. The Full Sakura Milk Latte is available from February 15th until March 19th, 2019.

The Full Sakura Frappuccino is designed to represent the cherry blossom petals in full bloom reflected on the water’s surface. Cherry blossoms along the river are a common sight in Japan during the spring. The Full Sakura Frappuccino base is a sakura and strawberry sauce with sakura jelly and strawberry jelly pieces all of which is topped with whipped cream and strawberry chocolate shavings and chocolate sakura flavoured petals. The Full Sakura Frappuccino is available from February 15th until February 27th, 2019

Starbucks Sakura Chocolate with Strawberry Jelly 

Available for a limited time only at convenience stores around Japan is the Sakura Chocolate with Strawberry Jelly drink. From February 12th you will be able to pick up one of these which has a sakura and white chocolate flavoured base mixed with tiny pieces of strawberry jelly. Its thick texture is similar to the Starbucks Frappuccino with the drink meant to be shaken before being drunk.

Starbucks Sakura Goods 

Starbucks limited-edition range of seasonal drinkware including travel mugs, cups, glasses and tumblers are always a hot item in its spring line-up. This year we have two different collections to enjoy. The first series being released on February 15th in soft pink is based around a “cold” theme.

The second series will be available from February 25th with a more vivid strawberry red theme and is based around a “sunlight” theme.

Starbucks Japan Website

Coca-Cola Frozen Lemon in Japan

Coca-Cola Japan has been busy in recent months with a wave of exclusive new products and limited-edition releases hitting the shelves. Hot on the heals of Peach Coca-Cola is the release of the world’s first frozen Coke slushie packs in Japan.

Coca-Cola Frozen Lemon has been eight years in the making and will be a frozen version of the popular lemon-flavoured Coke. The drink will be sold frozen and unfrozen, allowing those who don’t want to drink it straight away to pop it into their freezers at home to enjoy at their leisure.

The slushie comes in a handy portable resealable pouch which is believed to be a world-first for frozen beverages. The packaging allows customers to massage the pouch to get their desired level of crunch, while also enjoying the taste of Coca-Cola with “a refreshing sherbet sensation”.

Credit: Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola is banking on the drink being a hit and a summertime favourite that it is also going to release a range of Fanta frozen drinks in classic orange and grape.

Coca-Cola Frozen Lemon will go on sale at stores around Japan at a recommended retail price of 130 yen (USD$1.20) from 16 April.

I will definitely be giving this one a try. How about you? Please leave your comments below.

Coca-Cola Japan 

Credit: Coca-Cola