Starbucks Japan rings in the New Year with new Mellow Strawberry Tea Latte

A new drink from Starbucks Japan is set to go on sale in late December to celebrate the New Year.

The Mellow Strawberry Tea Latte will join Starbucks Japan’s “chilled cup” series, which is available from the majority of convenience stores, such as Lawson and 7-Eleven, across Japan.

This tea latte combines fragrant black tea with rich, mellow milk and the sweet, gorgeous aroma of strawberries.

As the new strawberry latte will be released around the New Year, the packaging has been designed to be reflective of the time of year.

An illustration of a snake, the zodiac sign for 2025, is paired with Mizuhiki knot style elements that are synonymous with the New Year in Japan as they represent the hope that good connections with loved ones will continue into the new year.

A luxurious gold color is paired with red and white, which are colors traditionally associated with success and good fortune that feature heavily during New Year celebrations in Japan.

Starbucks Japan have recommended a food pairing for the new latte, which is another New Year’s tradition – mochi, and suggest combining the drink with strawberry daifuku mochi in particular.

The flavors of the tea latte are said to bring out the fresh acidity of the strawberry daifuku and the sweetness of the bean paste, creating an even richer flavor.

When enjoyed together, the latte and mochi intertwine to create a smooth and melting texture that combines the creamy richness of the milk with the chewy texture of the daifuku.

Starbucks Japan’s Mellow Strawberry Tea Latte goes on sale from the 24th of December at convenience stores nationwide, at a suggested retail price of 219 yen (exc. tax) (approx. $1.42 USD/£1.13 GBP).

Source: Official Website

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