Starbucks Japan unveils new Kyoho grape drinks for a taste that’s quintessentially Japanese

Famous Japanese fruit appears in summer to remind us that autumn isn’t too far away. Japan might still be in the throes of a sweltering hot summer, but Starbucks Japan is already looking ahead to autu

Famous Japanese fruit appears in summer to remind us that autumn isn’t too far away.

Japan might still be in the throes of a sweltering hot summer, but Starbucks Japan is already looking ahead to autumn with two new drinks starring one of next season’s most beloved fruits: Kyoho grapes.

Designed to give customers an early taste of autumn as a reprieve from summer, the new beverages are said to have a rich aroma, juicy fruitiness and distinctive depth of flavour. Each one offers a different take on the popular Japanese grape variety, with the Houjun (“Rich”) Kyoho Frozen Tea combining chunks of Kyoho with refreshing black tea, while the Kyoho Chillax Soda pairs juicy grape pieces with sparkling soda.

▼ Houjun Kyoho Frozen Tea (Tall only, 668 yen [US$4.18] for takeout; 680 yen for dine-in)

This sophisticated frozen tea has an aromatic Kyoho base reminiscent of fully ripened grapes, with black tea adding body and a gentle astringency to the mix. A hint of cassis flavour is added as a subtle finishing touch, leaving a lingering fruity aftertaste.

With chunks of jiggly Kyoho grape jelly and generous pieces of real grape in the base, the drink reveals an increasingly fruity character as you sip your way through it. The sweetness is kept deliberately subdued to highlight the flavour of the ingredients, keeping the finish clean and light despite the richness.

▼ Kyoho Chillax Soda (Tall through to Venti, 579-680 yen)

Starbucks’ “Chillax Soda” series is known for combining fruit flavours with a specially developed “green citrus” syrup to create a delicious and refreshing carbonated drink. This new variety adds juicy pieces of Kyoho grape and Kyoho grape jelly for a fun textural contrast to the effervescent beverage.

For many people in Japan, the flavour and aroma of Kyoho grape is a harbinger of autumn, so these new drinks are a great reminder that despite the summer heat, the cooler days of autumn are just around the corner. Whether you’re still in the mood to enjoy summer or ready to start welcoming autumn, these drinks bridge the gap between seasons in a very delicious way, and they can be purchased at Starbucks stores around Japan for a limited time from 17 August.