Winter – the season where you just want to stay in and eat snacks and sweet stuff all day. If we’re talking Japanese sweets, then nothing beats matcha! Here’s a list of some of the matcha sweets on sale in Japan this winter season.

7 levels of matcha chocolate intensity at Nanaya

Nanaya are introducing some new items to their line-up this winter. Behold: a new range of matcha chocolate with 7 different matcha flavour intensities to choose from. The chocolate contains no flavourings or additives. It is made with milk produced in Shizuoka Prefecture and comes packaged in a cup an original design with 7 levels of matcha richness to choose from. As you go up the levels the flavour of the matcha gets more intense. As of now, the No. 7 cup is said to be the most matcha intense flavour in the world. (*currently being surveyed).

Full Details: http://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/74860

Lindt’s Christmas tree matcha hot chocolate

Lindt’s delicious hot chocolate looks just like a Christmas tree – the contrast between red and green is an exciting visual feast for the eyes (before delighting your taste buds!). This exquisite beverage uses a rich hot chocolate and is topped with Uji matcha whipped cream, matcha sauce, matcha powder and freeze-dried strawberries. You can pick from two different versions: the “dark” drink where you can enjoy the thick taste of cocoa, and the “milk” type which has a softer flavour.

Full Details: http://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/73541

Luxurious Uji matcha cream cake on sale at Tsujiri in Ginza

The “Kyo Koi Cha Gateau TSUJIRI” is a high quality cake that perfectly combines lavish matcha white chocolate cream with bitter cocoa sponge. The soft texture and rich, melt-in-the-mouth flavour of the matcha cream is simply irresistible. The wave pattern decorating the top of the cake is based on Kyoto’s zen gardens. This luxurious, traditional Uji matcha cake is a perfect as a gift from Ginza to somebody (or yourself…). Check out the other limited edition goodies too at the full article below.

Full Details: http://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/72181

Matcha menu collaboration between Mister Donut & Gion Tsujiri!

Mister Donut have teamed up with Gion Tsujiri, a shop specializing in Uji matcha, to release two very special matcha drinks: the “Hot Matcha Au Lait – Soy Milk Whip” and the “Cotton Snow Café – Matcha.” The matcha in these drinks are made using a traditional stone-ground method known as “ishiusu hiki seiho.” Gion Tsujiri use their own freshly harvested matcha which they grind with a stone mill. Gion Tsujiri have been running their business for more than 150 years.

Full Details: http://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/66447

14-layer strawberry daifuku parfait

The “strawberry daifuku” is a very familiar sweet to people of all ages in Japan. Everything about this delectable – its spongy and sweet, creamy texture and sour strawberry flavour cream – has been put into a glorious parfait. Standing at a heavenly 14 layers tall in one glass, the parfait contains matcha ice cream, cooked matcha, winter fruits such as mikan, chestnuts, and much more. Not only is the flavour of this stack fit for the gods, it’s also a wonder to look at.

Learn how to make your very own “Marron Rilakkuma Matcha Mousse” at home

We recommend this one for people who want to try making their own matcha sweets at home. This Japanese style mousse is perfect to be enjoyed during this season. Why not try it yourself? Kaori can teach you how to make this, and lots of other cute Japanese recipes, at home! Check out her article below.

Full Article: http://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/73760

Is your mouth watering yet? Hopefully these tasty treats have given you a reason to leave your warm room. Pick your favourite and go!

A uniquely Japanese tea flavor will be available this spring from Lipton —sakura!

It may still be too early for real cherry blossoms in Japan, but Unilever Japan Customer Marketing has recently announced a product from their Lipton brand that brings with it the definite scent of spring. That’s right, for a limited time and exclusively in Japan, they will be offering a new sakura tea in easy-to-use pyramid-shaped tea bags!

Get your hands on two new premium ice-cream bars available for a limited time only at selected Seven Eleven stores throughout Kanto, Tokai, and Kinki. These luxurious treats went on sale from December 13th and are available in two scrumptious flavours: “Joël Robuchon Chocolat ～Orange & Condensed Milk Sauce” and “Joël Robuchon Strawberry ～Tahitian Vanilla & White Chocolate.”

These tasty ice-cream bars are now available after a two-year long arrangement with Joël Robuchon. The product utilises new methods of mixing ingredients and the sauce together to make a “marble-like” formation. These ice-cream bars are “Like a dessert, with an assortment of flavours and textures that gush inside your mouth like the waves.”

The bars use  “uncompromising ingredients” that include the highest quality chocolate made in France and a vanilla paste made from 100% Tahitian vanilla beans, as well as cocoa beans and freeze-dried strawberries to create an “accentuated texture.” They are the perfect and a rewarding treat for Christmas and New Years, so pick one up from your closest Seven Eleven to feel true happiness in your palms… ♡

These are the kind of treats made possible only by Joël Robuchon and his perfection and originality. Try one yourself this winter.

■Information

“Joël Robuchon Chocolat ～Orange & Condensed Milk Sauce”

“Joël Robuchon Strawberry ～Tahitian Vanilla & White Chocolate”

Price: ￥300 (+ tax)

Release Date: December 13th, 20162016年12月13日(火)

Available: At selected stores around the regions of Kanto, Tokai, and Kinki

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“Cafe BARBAPAPA” (カフェ バーバパパ) over in “PLAZA AEON LakeTown” has now been open for one year, and to celebrate, they are holding a limited time special campaign that will run from Saturday November 12th, 2016 to Sunday November 20th, 2016. And that campaign is centered around the French picturebook character “Barbapapa”. The unique “Cafe BARBAPAPA” opened its doors last year on November 13th, and so they will commemorate their one-year anniversary starting today, November 12th, with a two week special campaign.

(C) 2016 Alice Taylor & Thomas Taylor All rights reserved.

A special weekend-only limited edition menu will be available for the celebration, which includes the “Barbapapa Pink Curry” (￥980) and the “Barbapapa and Barbamama no Anniversary Cake Set” (￥1,600). The curry is pink, just like the real Barbapapa! The cake set includes a Barbapapa cheese cake and a Barbamama chocolate mousse cake. If you order the cake set you can get two cups of tea or coffee completely free of charge. You will also get a limited edition one-year anniversary artwork coaster (quantity limited).

As well as the Barbapapa events happening on the weekends, there will also be a colouring-in event happening at “PLAZA” next door. The Cafe BARBAPAPA special campaign is running until November 20th. Both children and adults alike will enjoy it, so make sure not to miss out!

■Information

Cafe BARBAPAPA

Open: Saturday November 12th, 2016 to Sunday November 20th, 2016

Location: PLAZA Koshigaya AEON Lake town store

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To celebrate Cocoa Day, which is on 7^th November, specialist pancake shop “VERY FANCY” will be serving up a new limited edition collaboration menu from Monday 7^th 〜 Wednesday 30^th November. The new collaboration menu uses “Milk Cocoa” ー a long selling brand of chocolate by Morinaga & Company, Ltd.

Enjoy the full yet mild-flavour of Morinaga & Company’s standard milk cocoa sauce, which has been generously poured over the pancake. The batter of the pancake has also been kneaded with cocoa, and then finally sandwiched with layers of mascarpone cream and banana. The chocolate and banana combination is perfect for children and even adults.

The pure cocoa pancake is another variety of pancake sold ー cocoa pancakes are layered with mascarpone cream and strawberries and finished off with Morinaga & Company’s pure cocoa sauce. The bitter chocolate combined with the strawberries makes a perfect match, creating a bittersweet flavour which adults may find particularly appealing.

The collaboration drink uses Morinaga & Company’s cacao 70 as the bass. This is then topped with extravagant fresh cream to make a perfect high bitter cocoa drink which has a bittersweet scent. This drink is perfect to warm up your heart and body this Autumn and Winter!

Made with the best wheat flour, buttermilk, homemade cheese and baking powder without aluminium ー don’t miss out on VERY FANCY’s pancakes or the long-loved Morinaga & Company’s Cocoa combination! The limited edition collaboration tasty treats will be available until 30^th November, so grab some while you can!

■Information

Limited period: Monday 7^th 〜 Wednesday 30^th November
Location: Available at 6 “VERY FANCY” stores nationwide

Official website: http://veryfancy.me

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In order to celebrate this year’s “Pocky and Pretz” day, which will be held on 11^th November, a special site “Minna no Pocky Fes! 2016” (Everyone’s pocky festival 2016) opened on Friday 28^th October.

（ Special site URL： http://cp.pocky.jp/photo/ ）

The special site is concentrated with pocky photos uploaded on Instagram, Twitter and other social networking sites. By accessing the special site, you can enjoy an abundance of unique Pocky photos!

Additionally, follow the Pocky and Pretz day official account (ポッキー＆プリッツの日) on Twitter and post a pocky photo along with the official account hash tag to be entered for a lucky draw! One lucky winner will receive 1111 boxes of pocky! Take part in the second pocky campaign by retweeting the post made by the Pocky and Pretz day official account — 111 lucky winners will be awarded one box of pocky each!

What are you waiting for? Snap a pocky picture and share the fun — you could be in for a treat!

■Information

Special website URL： http://cp.pocky.jp/photo/

Official Twitter account： https://twitter.com/pockypretz11

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