McDonald’s Japan’s deliciously-loved triangular chocolate pie is making a return this year in an all new cookie’s and cream flavour, in addition to the regular chocolate flavour, both of which will hit branches across Japan for a limited time from October 15.

The chocolate pies have a crunchy exterior made up of layers and layers of delicious pastry. They’re filled with warm, melted chocolate to complete the tempting treat.

This year sees a tasty new entry to the chocolate pie series, one filled with a sweet-smelling vanilla cream containing smashed Oreo® cookies. This creates an enjoyable texture of the smooth cream and the crunchy pie.

There is of course the hugely popular original flavour known as “Black” which contains almonds and sweet melted chocolate cream. Once you order your pie of choice you’ll be left wondering where to start eating from!

Each pie also comes served in their own special packaging, both of which are limited in stock.

As the almighty creator of the chilled chocolate drink called the Chocolixir, GODIVA has now transcended to a whole new level with its Tea Magic Series which pairs luxurious GODIVA chocolate with a specially made tea. The fourth and final heavenly Chocolixir drink for the Tea Magic Series has now been revealed to be called the Chocolixir Uji Matcha Kiwami. This is a pairing of GODIVA white chocolate and Uji matcha. A limited number of these will be released for sale from October 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019.  

The GODIVA Tea Magic Series is made using the finest GODIVA chocolate. The chocolatier considers the most appropriate tea to enhance the flavour of the chocolate and only uses the finest tea leaves to make the drink. The result is a chilled chocolate tea which is filled with a flavour that will enlighten you. Hojicha Chocolate tea was the first tea of the series and was released on July 1st.

Chocolixir Uji Matcha Kiwami (270ml): ¥602 (before tax)

GODIVA’s mildly sweet and velvety white chocolate is blended with rich uji matcha tea and then chilled to a perfectly refreshing temperature. A light cloud of whipped cream floats on the surface and is sprinkled with carefully made uji matcha powder. Matcha chocolate sticks garnishe the drink. 

From your first sip to your last, your mouth will be filled with a rich and luxurious matcha flavour. From time to time, your tongue will discover the exciting texture of small pieces of smashed white chocolate pieces.

This is the perfect opportunity to indulge in the luxurious flavour of mild white chocolate blended with rich uji matcha. 

The Ginza branch of long-standing Uji tea shop Tsujiri has unveiled a seasonal treat that will be available this autumn only. It was released on September 18 and will be served until October 31.

Tsujiri Ginza is the only branch of Tsujiri in the Kanto region of Japan, aiming to offer a “new kind of matcha experience” to the people of Tokyo. This autumnal mont blanc parfait dessert is made from an aromatic chestnut cream made in France, matcha soft serve ice cream made by the Uji matcha experts at Tsujiri, and fluffy fresh cream, creating a seasonal mix of flavours.

Once you’re done shopping around the extravagant town of Ginza, why not treat yourself to a tasty matcha-packed delight?

McDonald’s Japan is collaborating with Morinaga Milk Industry’s popular long-selling products Mt. RAINIER Caffè Latte to release the McShake x Mt. RAINIER Caffè Latte to McDonald’s branches across Japan for a limited time from September 18.

Mt. RAINIER Caffè Latte is known for its tempting mix of rich aromatic espresso and full-bodied milk, and those flavours are about to meet another sumptuously compatible partner: the McShake. By using the McShake, which has a distinct creamy texture and subtle sweetness, McDonald’s has redefined the Mt. RAINIER Caffè to create an incredibly refreshing dessert-like coffee drink.

Only the best coffee beans are used in Mt. RAINIER and are sourced from 60 countries around the world. The new McShake beverage has a shot of full-bodied coffee syrup made from the extract of those pressed coffee beans for a harmonious amalgamation of flavours.

The drink is available in small and regular sizes, with small sizes only coming served in a special cup with the Mt. RAINIER Caffè Latte logo on it. These cups are limited in stock.

McDonald’s Japan is also holding a hashtag campaign to give 100 random people an original McCard and one case of Mt. RAINIER Caffè Lattes. Details below.

Kiyomizu Cheese Kobo opened at Kiyomizu Gojozaka at the foot of the famous Kiyomizudera Temple as Kyoto’s first ever cheesecake shop to sell its delicious cheesecakes in a cute jar. On August 13, they released a mouthwateringly rich Matcha Cheese Tea which will enlighten you with a new way to enjoy matcha.

The Matcha Cheese Tea harnesses Kyoto’s unbeatable Uji matcha which is full of rich and fresh flavour. A light cloud of fluffy cheese foam floats on top of the drink, adding a salty accent to the overall flavour. A traditional tea combined with a sweet and salty cheese flavour ー this brand new flavour discovery will leave you feeling refreshed and enlightened. The recipe for the cheese foam consists of cream cheese carefully selected by the cheesecake shop’s specialists. This is then blended with a small amount of salt to accent the flavour. 

If you mix the matcha milk tea with the cheese foam, the rich matcha mixes with the saltiness of the cream cheese, creating a sweet salty flavour that you will not be able to get enough of. As the flavour is not too overpowering, you can enjoy this drink endlessly and will feel refreshed even on a hot summer’s day. 

Matcha Cheese Tea: ￥460

Kiyomizu Cheese Kobo recommends three different ways to drink the Matcha Cheese Tea to enjoy three different levels of flavour combinations. 

① First off, drink just the matcha milk tea so you can experience the true authentic flavour of Kyoto’s famous rich Uji matcha tea. 

② Next, move your straw so that you taste just the cheese foam on its own. The fluffy foam will gently slide over your tongue and spread a mild and sweet flavour all over your mouth. 

③ Finally, it’s time to mix everything. The saltiness of the cheese foam and the sweetness of the matcha milk will create a new salty sweet flavour that you will want to try again and again.

Whether you are a Japanese local or a foreigner, this drink is a fun new way to enjoy matcha. If you are new to matcha, this is a good way to try the flavour without being too overwhelmed. 

XFLAG STORE + HANEDA is a small branch of XFLAG STORE and is located in Terminal 1 of Haneda Airport. On August 13th, they released three energising bubble tea flavours served in a bottle that you can take on board with you when travelling along domestic air routes. The three bubble tea flavours are; MILK TEA, HOJICHA (a type of green tea) and MATCHA. 

These bubble tea flavours are limited to XFLAG STORE + HANEDA and were created with the intention of providing a splash of energizing fun to tiresome travels. 

As long as you screw the lid on properly, you can store your delicious drink in your bag and even carry it onto your flight so you can enjoy it whilst soaring through the clouds. This is the first time a shop at Haneda airport has ever sold a bubble tea drink with the intention of flight passengers taking it on board with them.

*Drinks and liquids are usually permitted on domestic flights in Japan. Please check the specific rules of your flight by referring to the official website of your airline. 

To commemorate the release of the new bubble teas, XFLAG STORE + HANEDA has launched an Instagram campaign with the chance to win an Amazon gift card worth ￥10,000 (approx. 80GBP/95USD). 

To take part in the Instagram campaign for the chance to win a ￥10,000 Amazon gift card, be sure to take a photo with your XFLAG STORE + HANEDA bubble tea drink and then post the picture on Instagram with the following three hashtags:

#旅タピ #タピオカ #空の上で飲めるタピオカドリンク

Four winners will be selected.

Get your summer holidays off to a soaring start with a beautiful bottle of bubble tea. 

Kyoto-based Uji tea store Itohkyuemon released its new Matcha Parfait Bars at its new branch in Gion Shijo on August 7.

The bars proved so popular that all 1,500 in stock sold out on the first day. The store is currently being piled with orders for future sales. There are five flavours to enjoy: the classic matcha parfait flavour as well as cherry blossom, tropical, mont blanc, and strawberry.

Matcha Parfait Bar – Matcha

The matcha flavoured bar retains the original rich flavour of the Uji matcha, which has been passed down since the Muromachi period, and combines it with a delicious assortment of parfait toppings including raw matcha chocolate, mini daifuku, coarse sweet red bean paste, and more.

Matcha Parfait Bar – Sakura (Cherry Blossom)

For another traditional Japanese twist there is the springtime sakura parfait bar which is made with cherry blossom pink rice flour dumplings and ice cream. It’s also topped with cherry blossom cream and salted cherry blossom petals for a cute finish.

Matcha Parfait Bar – Tropical

Tropical flavours like pineapple and mango blend together in this bar which is drizzled in a sweet, sour and refreshing tropical sauce. Topped with fresh tropical fruits, this is the ultimate summertime luxury.

Matcha Parfait Bar – Mont Blanc

This bar incorporates a sense of autumn with its mix of candied chestnut, astringent chestnut skin, and melt-in-the-mouth mont blanc cream.

Matcha Parfait Bar – Strawberry

Strawberry lovers will delight in the handmade strawberry sauce and strawberry meringue of this bar. The meringue elevates the sumptuous flavours of the parfait even more, including the fresh strawberry, raspberry and blueberry toppings which provide a sweet and sour kick.

Which of these Matcha Parfait Bars do you want to try the most?

Hello everyone! This is Midori from MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON.

Candy apples are the staple food of summer festivals. A crunchy candy coating and a sweet, fruity apple is such a divine combination. It can be quite difficult to find candy apples outside of festivals. That’s where Candy Apple steps in. This is a brand new shop on the block that specialises in candy apples!

This is located just a five-minute walk from Shibuya Station’s west exit. If you check out their saved Instagram story, you probably won’t get lost. During the weekdays and on Saturdays, this is an Italian restaurant called Buonappetito. On Sundays, when the restaurant is closed, it transforms into a candy apple shop.

The shop interior is gorgeous.

Plain: ¥600

I ordered the plain apple without wasting any time. This is much larger than what you would usually get at a festival. Although these are usually eaten by immediately sinking your teeth in and biting out a big chunk, you can cut your apple here and enjoy it at your own pace. 

After taking your first bite, you will realise just how different this is to your normal candy apple. The apple is coated in a thin layer of candy, creating a delicious crunch. The apple is fresh, juicy and sweet. Some candy apples are made with mushy apples that are not fresh, however these apples are extremely fresh and delicious right to the last bite. 

These candy apples are full of a variety of flavours.

Cinnamon Sugar: ¥600

The apple with the dusting of beige-coloured powder is cinnamon-flavoured. The sweet cinnamon scent spreads everywhere as soon as you set it on the table. The sweet flavour of the apple and the fragrant cinnamon is a match made in heaven. 

Cocoa: ¥600

The apple covered in the brown powder is cocoa-flavoured. The slightly bitter flavour of the chocolate is a perfect match for the sweet apple. The colour contrast between the brown chocolate and white apple is also beautiful. ♪

Matcha: ¥600

The apple with the green powder is matcha as you may have already guessed! The flavouring of the Uji matcha used for this apple was carefully balanced to maximise the flavour when combined with the apple. After you take your first bite, you just won’t be able to stop. 

Blueberry Yoghurt: ¥600

The bright white dusting on this blueberry yoghurt-flavoured apple is beautiful. The blueberry scent is mild and is perfect with the yoghurt.

Black Cocoa: ¥600

The pitch black colour of the Black Cocoa Candy Apple is very appetizing. The black cocoa is even more bitter than the cocoa apple, which really brings out the flavour of the sweet apple even more.

You can even get chocolate fondue for your candy apple (¥400). By adding the fairly bitter chocolate to your candy apple, you can enjoy three different kinds of sweetness when it mixes with the chocolate, candy and the apple. 

You can even order your candy apple to go, making it the perfect summer souvenir. Taking it home to enjoy is also another wonderful way to make the most of your experience. 

This candy apple shop is only open on Sundays, but you can order to take away on other days. 

This is a flavour that a festival candy apple will never be capable of offering. You can tuck into your apple inside the beautiful shop, or take it home to enjoy at home at your own pace. 

Eggs ’n Things, Shijo Street, Kyoto will be selling luxurious Uji matcha pancakes from August 1, 2019. 

Eggs ‘n Things Shijo Street first launched their delicious uji matcha pancakes back in February 2017. The pancakes quickly became a big hit among the locals as well as the tourists, appealing to visitors who wanted to discover more about Kyoto. This summer, Eggs ‘n Things is packing their Kyoto-limited pancakes with even more Kyoto goodness.

These pancakes are luxuriously covered with rich matcha custard cream and garnished with rice flour dumplings, adzuki bean paste, chestnuts and a mini monaka wafer cake. Matcha is even kneaded into the pancake dough, maximising its mellow flavour. If you visit Kyoto, be sure to fully immerse yourself in the wonders of matcha ordering these matcha pancakes at Eggs ‘n Things Shijo Street, Kyoto.

Starbucks will be releasing their fourth round of summer seasonal drinks. From July 19th, Majority of Starbucks cafés across the country will start to sell the Peach on the Beach Frappuccino®. 

Small boulders of white peach fill the cup, allowing you to enjoy the fulfilling texture of fruit. The sweet, fruity taste will fill your mouth, making your tastebuds want to dance with excitement. 

The frappuccino also contains bright peach sauce, luxurious peach pieces and peach purée. After sinking into the ripe peach pieces, the flavour will melt on your tongue and spread through your mouth. The pinkness of the peach drink will really put you in a peachy mood perfect for the summer! Don’t miss out. 

Kyoto-based green tea company Itohkyuemon has been around since the end of the Edo period, its longevity having established itself has a hugely popular store. The company have just announced that they will open their first ever tea house extension in Kyoto called Itohkyuemon Gion Shijo on August 7.

The cafe will serve up its own exclusive menu items from desserts to meals.

(Left) Gion Parfait – ¥1,480 / (Right) Sweets Plate – ¥1,680

The Gion Parfait is made with high-quality Uji matcha, something Itohkyumon is renowned for. It’s served in a large parfait class bigger than their usual matcha parfait and is stacked sumptuously with chestnuts, tamba black beans, chocolate, a slice of Uji matcha roll cake, and more.

If you love Japanese tea then you’ll adore the Sweets Plate which is filled with an assortment of matcha and houjicha sweets.

Matcha Curry Udon: ¥980

The Matcha Curry Udon, which was previously sold only at the JR Uji Station branch of Itohkyuemon, will now be served at the new establishment. This Itohkyuemon-original dish is a combination of chewy matcha udon noodles and white broth matcha curry. The curry is also served as a souvenir; when it was first released in 2014 it sold out its stock of 2,000 in just two days. Experience matcha like never before when visiting Kyoto at Itohkyuemon Gion Shijo.

McDonald’s Japan has announced that it will release three new carbonated McFizz beverages as part of a summer campaign. The McFizz Blue Hawaii, McFizz Blood Orange and McFizz Lemon & Ginger will be served from July 10.

McFizzes are cool and refreshing carbonated beverages perfect for the summer heat. They are served in a variety of vivid colours.

McFizz Blue Hawaii

This refreshing light blue drink contains apple juice (1%) which has a refreshing sour taste. Blue Hawaii is a staple of summertime.

McFloat Blue Hawaii

The same as the McFizz Blue Hawaii but is transformed into a dessert drink with a dollop of rich and velvety soft serve ice cream.

McFizz Blood Orange (1% Juice)

The alluring orange gradation of the McFizz Blood Orange gives it a cute appearance. A mix of sweet and rich blood orange and refreshingly sour grapefruit juice, this is another perfect pick for the summer.

McFloat Blood Orange (1% Juice)

McFizz Lemon & Ginger (1% Juice)

This drink uses lemons from Sicily which have a characteristically bright yellow colour. It’s mixed with ginger for an added refreshing bite.

McFloat Lemon & Ginger (1% Juice)

Each drink is served in cups featuring cute illustrations of a boy and girl in live. You can make a cute photo by lining them all up together♡

Fan away the hot weather this summer by picking up one of the new McFizz drinks from McDonald’s in Japan!