Latest news with #Masami
SoraNews24
01-05-2025
- Business
- SoraNews24
How special is Starbucks Japan's new 'Special Ver.' Frappuccino?
Join us as we find out if this is a decadent improvement or a sneaky cash grab. Earlier this month, Starbucks unveiled 'THE Strawberry Frappuccino' as its first limited-edition Frappuccino for early summer. Juicy, refreshing and delicious, this fruity concoction became an instant crowd pleaser, but now the chain is taking things one step further with a brand new version of the drink, called 'THE Strawberry Frappuccino Special Ver.' Due to be released on 2 May, we were able to get a pre-release taste of it on 30 April, as our reporter K. Masami is a member of the Starbucks Rewards programme so was able to receive early access. Like the first variety, this new Frappuccino contains real strawberry juice, with pulp, jelly, and seeds offering a full-flavoured strawberry experience. However, unlike the original drink, which cost 720 yen (US$5.06), this new version is priced slightly higher, at 790 yen. The more extravagant price matches the more extravagant ingredients, though, with extra strawberry pulp sauce and jelly in the mix and on top of the whipped cream. Starbucks Frappuccinos in the 700 yen range are already pretty pricey, so the near-800 yen price point made Masami pause for a moment, but in the end there was no way she could resist trying the new deluxe Frappuccino so she purchased both of them for a taste test. ▼ Regular Version on the left, Special Version on the right. The regular version was exactly how she remembered it — full bodied and fruity, with a good balance between sweet and tart flavours. However, when she laid eyes on the special version, she could tell it was way more luxurious than the regular — from top to bottom, it was an eye-poppingly vivid shade of vibrant red. As for the taste, it was so decadent it made Masami's eyes roll to the back of her head in delight. There were extra bursts of texture, a sharper balance between sweet and tart, and increased juiciness. It was so indulgent it almost felt too luxurious – like biting into an expensive Japanese strawberry or trying a premium strawberry dessert. Though she'd been dubious at first, by the end she was convinced that the drink is truly worthy of its 'Special' title. It's an expensive beverage so you might not buy it often, but Masami says that trying it once is an absolute must. With all the extra pulp and jelly, it's not overpriced for what you get, and if you want more sweetness in the mix, the baristas recommend adding a pump of Chocolate Sauce for free or White Mocha Syrup for an additional 55 yen. Like the regular version, the Special Ver. is only available until May 27, while stocks last. Photos©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
SoraNews24
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Can Starbucks Japan's new Chillax Sodas really help you relax and chill?
Customers in Japan get a new type of limited-edition drink this summer. If you're a Starbucks lover like our reporter K. Masami, chances are you've been trying to keep up with all the new limited-edition releases lately. Just as Masami thought she was up-to-date with all the new drinks, drinkware and sweets at the chain, they threw her a curveball by releasing a new type of beverage she never saw coming: the Chillax Soda. Available in two flavours, Strawberry and Yuzu Citrus, the new drinks are set to be released on 25 April, but as a Starbucks Rewards member, Masami was able to try them ahead of time, with early access for members staring on 23 April. Both drinks have common elements, in that the fizzy carbonated base is blended with a special 'green citrus' syrup which, although transparent, contains the flavours of lemon, lime, grapefruit, pear and herbs. They're also said to focus on aroma over sweetness, with the goal of helping you chill out and relax, which is something Masami doesn't normally relate to fruity fizzy drinks, so she was curious to see how she would feel when trying them. Starting with the Chillax Soda Strawberry, it looked a treat, with strawberry pulp sauce and jelly in the base, and a semi-dried lemon slice on top. The moment she took a sip, her taste buds were greeted by a fizzy sensation, which was an exciting new experience for a Starbucks drink as carbonated beverages like this are rarely produced by the chain. While Starbucks' limited-edition releases are usually on the sweeter side, this one, despite containing a generous amount of fruit, was light on sweetness and incredibly crisp, making it perfect for summer. Masami figured this refreshing flavour profile was helped by the green citrus syrup, making it an essential ingredient to the drink's success. Next up, she tried the Chillax Soda Yuzu Citrus, which blends yuzu peel, grapefruit, orange, and the same green citrus syrup with a soda base. This one, too, was finished with a semi-dried lemon slice. The flavours here were even more refreshing than the first variety, and absolutely delicious. The combination of yuzu with the green citrus was outstanding — it was so invigorating she'll definitely be wanting to drink this again and again as the weather warms up. With the crisp, sparkly blend of citrus, this wasn't exactly a drink Masami would reach for when wanting to chillax at home, but when seeking respite from the heat in an air-conditioned Starbucks during summer, the liquid refreshment would literally help her relax…and chill. With Starbucks planning more flavours for the Chillax Soda series, this is a good introduction to the concept of 'fragrant sodas to lighten your mood'. It's the kind of drink you'll crave between other Starbucks offerings, but these two flavours will only be around for a limited time, with the Strawberry available until May 27 and the Yuzu Citrus until 2 September They can be purchased in Tall (579 yen [US$4.07] for takeout and 590 yen for dine-in), and Grande (624 yen for takeout and 635 yen for dine-in) sizes, with official sales commencing on 25 April. Source, images: Press release ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
