BOTANIST Tokyo, the flagship shop of BOTANIST in Omotesando, has announced a new collection of limited-edition drinks will be served on the second floor BOTANIST Cafe from July 12, 2020. BOTANIST Tokyo is currently closed but it scheduled to reopen on June 1.

There are three new refreshing drinks to choose from, all of which can be ordered for takeout. From apple mint to grapefruit, each beverage us the perfect accompaniment for cooling you down in Japan this summer.

REFRESH MENU

Refresh Soda: ¥600 (Tax Included)

A combination of grapefruit jelly and fizzy soda water make this one of those drinks that you go “Ahh!” afterwards on a hot summer’s day. There’s also a hint of sweet green apple.

Botanical Melon Soda: ¥800 (Tax Included)

This is a smoothie which blends together two types of melon soda and adds melon jelly and a dollop of ice cream. It’s like a dessert in a cup!

Banana & Avocado Refresh Smoothie: ¥720 (Tax Included)

Enjoy the sweetness of banana and sugar beet together with the smoothness texture of the avocado in this smoothie which has apple and mint mixed into it for that refreshing summertime kick.

The cafe’s regular menu has also been revised to add three new desserts.

REGULAR MENU

Vegan Waffles w/Drink: ¥800 (Tax Included)

These vegan waffles are healthier for the body if you’re looking for some guilt-free indulgence. It’s topped with soy whipped cream, maple syrup, and fruits of your choice.

Lemon Cheesecake w/Drink: ¥1,000 (Tax Included)

A crunchy cookie base, a creamy cheese top, and a lemon to top it all off. The combination of the salty flavour with the sour hit is a match made in heaven.

Homemade Rich Pudding: ¥500 (Tax Included)

An in-house made purin, which is a type of Japanese custard pudding. It’s a delightful mix of rich egg and subtly sweet soy whipped cream.

Customers who spend over ¥4,000 (tax included) on items in the Refresh Series will also be entered in for a chance to win a “Refresh Soda.” The soda is available while supplies last.

Japanese confectionery company Kanro has revealed its new limited-edition, tropical flavoured Pikachu gummies which it developed in collaboration with Pokémon for its Puré gummy range. They will be released in Japan on June 2, 2020.

The sweet and chewy tropical gummies are made with pineapple juice which is the main flavour, mango juice, and banana juice. They also added a soda flavour for that Pikachu thunderbolt kick (and to balance the flavours!)

They come in limited-edition Pikachu shapes

A packet of these gummies includes the classic heart-shaped Puré gummy sweets as well as Pikachu-shaped ones. There are also four packet designs all featuring original and exclusive Pikachu illustrations.

Additionally, for a limited time, the regular lemon, grape, and muscat grape Puré gummy packaging feature Pikachu’s paw prints on the front and back. There are even hidden Pikachu-shaped gummies inside these regular packets.

Pikachu online promotion

The product is being promoted over on the official Puré Twitter page. Pikachu is set to take over the page this June with promotional videos.

With shops and businesses temporarily closed as a result of lockdown measures in Japan, Japanese convenience store chain FamilyMart decided that since people can’t as easily get their hands on authentic matcha right now, they would collaborate with the famous matcha company Kanbayashi Shunsho Honten to stock some authentic matcha treats on its shelves. They were released at FamilyMart branches across Japan on May 19, 2020.

Umami Matcha Parfait

The parfait begins with a soft sponge bottom and is then layered with milk mousse and matcha mousse before being topped with matcha jelly, red bean paste, and other tasty accompaniments.

Umami Matcha Cheesecake Baumkuchen

The matcha baumkuchen is made using authentic Uji matcha and is baked to look like a cheesecake. You get the full rich matcha kick with this one.

Hidetoshi Kanbayashi (Kanbayashi Shunsho Honten) | Comment

“We use a blend of first-grade Uji matcha and top it with jelly and matcha mousse. We have made it in such a way that you can enjoy the full flavour and aroma of the matcha itself. Please enjoy.”

With just a small bit of ingenuity, turn everyday food into something cute using Kaori’s Easy Recipe! With a few simple ideas, an ordinary recipe magically transforms into a cute dish.

In today’s recipe, I’ll be showing you how I made a batch of Pompompurin cheese tarts made using store-bought tart cups.

Ingredients (Makes 9-10)

9-10 store bought tart cups
200g cream cheese (brought to room temperature)
20-30g sugar
1 egg yolk
50ml fresh cream
8g potato starch (katakuriko)
Vanilla beans to taste (can be substituted for vanilla extract)
1 tbsp lemon juice

Step 1

Pour the following ingredients into a bowl in this order: cream cheese→sugar→egg yolk→vanilla beans→fresh cream→potato starch. Mix well. Make sure when you put the potato starch in last that you sprinkle it thinly.

Step 2
Bake the tart cups in an oven at 180℃ for 15-20 minutes. If you don’t have store-bought cups, you can use small cocotte dishes.

Step 3

Leave to cool. Now you can start drawing the face.

For the hat I used sliced chocolate, for the ears sliced cheese, and for the facial features a chocolate pen.

Once you’ve drawn the face, it’s time to tuck in!

Kaori invites you into her world of character-themed food dishes in her recipe series. Be sure to check out her Instagram where she has uploaded many pictures of her character dishes!

ALL HEARTS COMPANY, a Japanese company that develops bakeries and patisseries across Japan, is launching an all-new cheesecake shop called Neko Neko Cheesecake which will open in Jiyugaoka, Tokyo on May 20, 2020. Serving cat-shaped cheesecakes, the shop will also take online orders.

Neko Neko Cheesecake is a sister brand of Neko Neko Kuu Pan from the same company which serves cat-shaped bread. Online deliveries will make for the perfect opportunity to bring that cafe experience to your own home.

Neko Neko Cheesecake – ¥1,800 (Before Tax) / Size: 11cm, 475g

The cake is made from the luxurious French brie cheese Brie de Meaux which is mixed with a homemade apricot jam to create rich, deep flavour. This means the cheesecake not only looks cute, but is the real deal too.

Their secret to bringing about amazing flavour and not just adorable looks can be broken down into four simple steps.

①They use the king of cheeses, Brie de Meaux.
②Although baked, the cheesecake is so soft it has a similar texture to a no-bake cheesecake.
③The sweet and sour homemade apricot jam elevates the overall flavour.
④The combination of mature cheese and the apricot jam changes the flavour to create a completely new kind of cheesecake.

The cheesecakes are boxed in box that has a simple yet chic design with two cats sat side by side.

The store will open on May 20, and online orders will launch on ALL HEARTS MALL on the same day.

Mister Donut Japan is set to release yet another new limited line of matcha doughnuts in collaboration with Gion Tsujiri and Toshi Yoroizuka at all branches in Japan from May 15, 2020.

Last month, Mister Donut collaborated with Gion Tsujiri and Toshi Yoroizuka to release the “Matcha Itadaki Series.” This time around, they’re joining their sticky baking hands to bring the “Matcha Odoroki Series.” The triple team’s matcha creations are the fitting way to celebrate Mister Donut’s 50th anniversary as Gion Tsujiri brings the best Uji matcha from Kyoto and Uji-born pastry chef Toshihiko Yoroizuka brings his creative ideas.

There are four treats in the line-up: the “Crisp Double Uji Matcha” and “Crisp Uji Match Chocolate” feature cookie and bagel dough bases, creating a crunchy and chewy mix, while the “Pon de Pie Uji Matcha” and “Pon de Pie Chocolate” feature Mister Donut’s classic chewy Pon de Rings combined with a crunchy pie texture.

Crisp Double Uji Matcha – ¥230 (Before Tax)

A chewy and crunchy base laced with Uji matcha and topped with Uji matcha whipped cream and chocolate.

Crisp Uji Match Chocolate – ¥230 (Before Tax)

A chewy and crunchy base laced with Uji matcha and topped with Uji matcha chocolate and chocolate chips.

Pon de Pie Uji Matcha – ¥200 (Before Tax)

Enjoy both a chewy base and crunchy pie mix at the same time, topped with Uji matcha whipped cream.

Pon de Pie Chocolate – ¥200 (Before Tax)

Enjoy both a chewy base and crunchy pie mix at the same time, decorated with chocolate whipped cream.

The Matcha Odoroki Series sees the chefs’ ideas shine through to create desserts that not only taste amazing but look gorgeous too, as well as taking into the account texture.

Ginza Cozy Corner is introducing nine new Disney “sports festival” themed cupcakes to cake shops through Japan on May 11, 2020.

Cute mini cupcakes with a sports theme

Nine cupcakes make up the collection which feature motifs from popular Mickey Mouse & Friends characters including Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy. One look at the picture below is enough to have you thinking what a waste these nearly seem to eat because of how adorable they are.

Disney Sports Festival Cupcakes (Box of 9) – ¥2,500 / Available: May 11, 2020 – June 21, 2020

The designs take inspiration from different sports like tennis, rugby, skateboarding, and more. All nine come in a box so it’s going to be difficult picking which one to start with!

Disney sports design box

Box Line-Up

Top Row From Left
Daisy Duck Rhythmic Gymnastics: Cheese Cream Roll Cake
Mickey & Friends Basketball: Chocolate & Vanilla Cream Roll Cake
Pluto Running: Chocolate Cream Cake

Middle Row From Left
Mickey & Friends Rugby: Sweet Adzuki Bean Paste Cream Matcha Cake
Mickey & Friends Cheerleader: Strawberry Cream Tart
Goofy Soccer: Orange & Chocolate Cream Tart

Bottom Row From Left
Minnie Mouse Tennis: Lemon Cream & Strawberry Cream Tart
Donald Duck Swimming: White Peach & Lychee Cream Shortcake
Mickey Mouse Skateboard: White Chocolate Cream & Raspberry Puree Tart

Healthy doughnut makers Floresta Nature Doughnuts released two doughnuts in collaboration with Hello Kitty on Tuesday which are available to purchase on their website and in-store at select branches.

The adorable Hello Kitty and her twin sister Mimmy arrive at Floresta for the very first time. Both doughnuts are great gifts to treat yourself to, for Mother’s Day, or to send a friend you can’t meet right now due to the lockdown.

Hello Kitty Doughnut Collaboration – ¥450 Each (Before Tax)

Both ring doughnuts are topped with freeze dried strawberries and seat the cute Hello Kitty and Mimmy.

Floresta is also selling sets of these doughnuts on their websiteーyou can get four in total, that’s two each, in the set.

Select branches are selling these doughnuts, but due to emergency measures many branches are closed or now have reduced opening hours. If you’re in Japan and thinking of visiting one of the stores, make sure to check the company’s social media and take all necessary precautions when going out.

Papico, a long-selling brand of ice creams in Japan known for their smooth texture, is teaming up with Rilakkuma to give 1,000 people a chance to win limited-edition Rilakkuma and Korilakkuma hand puppets. The campaign is set to run from April 20, 2020.

Papico is a popular brand of ice cream in Japan that comes in many flavours, such as Chocolate Coffee, which blends chocolate with cafe latte, and the sweet, sour and refreshing White Sour. They also sell numerous limited-edition flavours.

The collaboration designs include Rilakkuma for Coffee Chocolate and Korilakkuma for White Sour. They also come as hand puppets.

The campaign offers 1,000 random people a chance to win both puppets. It will run from April 20, 2020 to July 19, 2020. To sign up, purchase one of the ice creams and apply via the application page included on your receipt.

McDonald’s Japan is teaming up with Ezaki Glico to bring Glico’s popular “Pucchi Purin” custard pudding dessert to McDonald’s McShake®. The “Pucchin Purin McShake” will be released at all McDonald’s branches around Japan for a limited time starting on April 13, 2020.

The collaboration comes at the right time as Glico has revamped its popular Pucchi Purin dessert.

The new Pucchin Purin McShake incorporates everything that’s delicious about McShake, including its creamy texture and subtly sweet taste, and combines it with the milky Pucchi Purin pudding with all its caramel goodness, creating a drinkable dessert.

It also comes with some additional caramel sauce (available while supplies last) which only adds to the tempting sweetness of the drink. Add as much or as little as you like.

Pucchin Purin McShake is available in a small only, with cups featuring an original design. This is a must-try for fans of McShake and Japanese custard puddings, known as purin.

Mister Donut Japan is set to release a new limited line of matcha doughnuts in collaboration with Gion Tsujiri and Toshi Yoroizuka at all branches in Japan from April 10, 2020.

Following the success of Mister Donut’s previous collaborations with the two companies, named “misdo meets Gion Tsujiri” and “misdo meets Toshi Yoroizuka” respectively, this new collaboration sees all three companies come together for the first time to co-develop the matcha doughnuts. The triple team’s matcha creations are the fitting way to celebrate Mister Donut’s 50th anniversary as Gion Tsujiri brings the best Uji matcha from Kyoto and Uji-born pastry chef Toshihiko Yoroizuka brings his skill set.

Pon de Ring Uji Matcha Chocolate Almond

The classic chewy Pon de Ring laced with Uji matcha and coated in chocolate. It’s finished with a sprinkling of Uji matcha powder and crunchy almonds.

Pon de Ring Uji Matcha Milk Crunch

The matcha-ness is turned up with this Pon de Ring, which is not only mixed with Uji matcha, but coated with Uji matcha chocolate. It’s served with a snowfall of milk crunch pieces., highlighting the velvety texture of the doughnut while adding crunch.

Pon de Ring Uji Matcha & Chocolate Cream

This doughnut is made into a sandwich, with Uji matcha whipped cream and chocolate cream. The Uji matcha chocolate adds a richness to the overall flavour.

Pon de Ring Uji Matcha Doughnuts

Running: April 10, 2020 – Early June 2020

Available: At most Mister Donut branches in Japan

Tiramisu Chocolate Whip

The dough of these tiramisu doughnuts are combined with cocoa. This one is filled with chocolate whipped cream, a tiramisu, and milk crunch pieces for an amalgamation of tasty flavours and textures.

Tiramisu Uji Matcha Whip

The chocolate whipped cream of the previous doughnut is replaced with Uji matcha whipped cream for this luxurious delight. The cream is also embedded with almonds.

Uji Matcha Chocolate Pie

The name speaks for itself: a lovely layered pie of Uji matcha chocolate and chocolate cream.

Tiramisu Doughnuts & Chocolate Pie

Running: April 10, 2020 – Early May 2020

Available: At most Mister Donut branches in Japan

With most of us cooped up indoors, that desire to go and relax in a cafe with some coffee and cake just keeps on growing. “gmgm,” a doughnut shop in Koenji, Tokyo that specialises in “flower doughnuts,” is very aware of this, and so they opened an online shop on Saturday to allow for people to enjoy that authentic cafe experience from their own home.

gmgm, the flower doughnut shop

Nana Yui, an artist of dried flower art, opened gmgm in June 2019 as the sister store to HANABAR, a bar in Ikebukuro, Tokyo where drinks are served topped with beautiful dried flower art. At gmgm, the beautiful flower art combines harmoniously with the antique furniture and decor. It’s a popular doughnut shop whose doughnuts are beautiful enough to be given as gifts.

Earl Grey x Rose: ¥500

Cream Cheese Strawberry x Safflower: ¥500

The doughnuts gmgm is offering to ship out on their website include their five regular doughnut flavours and some limited-time flavours, all of which are nothing short of cute works of art.

Customers who order on the shop by April 30 will also receive a free dried flower and a tea turns blue. Those who order more than 8 will receive that plus a pressed viola flower you can eat.

You can also make ice cubes with flowers in them and set your table like in the cafe’s photos for a really luxurious tea time!