By KAZUMI TAKO/ Staff Writer
July 5, 2021 at 07:20 JST
A new Starbucks "47 Jimoto Frappuccino" only available in Miyagi Prefecture infuses "zunda-an" sweetened mashed edamame paste and matcha green tea. (Provided by Starbucks Coffee Japan)
Move over, Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino.
For a limited time this summer, Starbucks Coffee Japan will debut 47 new Frappuccino drinks, one for each prefecture, made with local ingredients such as "Hyuganatsu" citrus and "Kakinotane" rice confectionery.
The Seattle-based coffee chain unveiled its lineup of photogenic frozen drinks, each sold in its corresponding prefecture, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its first foray into Japan.
Starbucks baristas across the country came up with ideas for the ingredients, presentation and naming of each prefecture’s drink.
By using local products in Starbucks’ signature beverage, the company said it hopes to strengthen its ties with local communities.
The special lineup is called “47 Jimoto (hometown) Frappuccino” and will be available from June 30 to Aug. 3, in a tall size only, priced at 682 yen ($6) including tax, or 669 yen to go.
The Frappuccino for southern Miyazaki Prefecture uses mango sauce and Hyuganatsu citrus, while baristas in central Yamanashi Prefecture dreamed up a drink featuring grapes, which are a local specialty, and white chocolate cream.
Baristas in Tottori Prefecture went for photographic perfection, creating a creamy caramel drink that looks like the prefecture’s famous sand dunes.
In Tochigi Prefecture, baristas chose to have fun with a natural phenomenon. The prefecture is prone to lightning strikes, so they came up with the idea of replicating the sound and image of lightning by infusing popping candy into a chocolate Frappuccino.
For a more adventurous taste, baristas in Miyagi Prefecture decided to blend “zunda-an” (sweet edamame bean paste) and matcha green tea.
Niigata Prefecture’s special drink features a beloved snack, Kakinotane, in a chocolate-based Frappuccino.
In Aichi Prefecture, baristas were inspired by a locally popular dish: thick toast topped with azuki bean paste.
The first Starbucks store in the country was opened in Tokyo’s posh Ginza district in 1996.
By 2015, all 47 prefectures had at least one Starbucks. Currently, about 1,600 Starbucks are operating in Japan.
The company is expected to open 100 new stores every year, aiming for a total of 2,000 Starbucks in 2024.
Starbucks targets new market, in coffee exporting Laos
November 2, 2020
New uses found for mountains of food waste, even crab shells
August 25, 2020
Delayed by virus, sightseeing train to make 1st run in Sanin region
September 7, 2020EU, China sign food protection deal ahead of challenging summit
September 14, 2020
VOX POPULI: Those who have had COVID-19 need empathy, not social stigma
January 7, 2021
GOHAN LAB/ Cod cooked in 'chanchan' style: Making it in an electric griddle gives everyday dish a party edge
February 17, 2021
Stories about memories of cherry blossoms solicited from readers
Cooking experts, chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life.
A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry
A series on the death of a Japanese woman that sparked a debate about criminal justice policy in the United States
A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II
Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors.
