Starbucks Japan will release its third set of drinks in an ongoing series of Christmas themed beverages at the coffee chain. The new Pistachio Christmas Tree Frappuccino® cold beverage and Pistachio Christmas Tree hot beverage will be released on December 5.   Christmastime is fasting approaching in Japan―the lights sparkle and illuminate the streets and the holiday season vibe is growing. Seeing Christmas trees decorating people's living rooms and dotted around outside is sure to elicit a mutual excitement with many people.

Pistachio Christmas Tree Frappuccino®: Tall ¥590 (Pre-Tax) *Tall size only

Pistachio Christmas Tree: Short ¥450 / Tall ¥490 / Grande ¥530 / Venti® ¥570 (Pre-Tax)

  Starbucks have tried to capture that same feeling with their upcoming new Christmas tree-inspired drinks made with roasted pistachios and a rich, fragrant pistachio sauce. Topping both drinks is a red ribbon raspberry sauce. At the bottom of the frappuccino is a white and snowy whipped cream along with roasted academia nuts for added texture. The whipped cream too is mixed with the pistachio sauce. Its appearance truly reminds one of a Christmas tree.   The hot milk in the Pistachio Christmas Tree intensifies the flavour of the pistachios while warming both your heart and body. The Frappuccino® version is perfect with all kinds of customisation just like the hot beverages. It's best enjoyed by creating your own when ordering - it's like decorating a Christmas tree with ornaments.   The recommended customisation with the hot pistachio drink is an espresso shot. It creates an irresistible harmony with the roasted texture of the macadamia nuts and the texture of the pistachios. For the frappe, try the almond toffee syrup. It draws out the flavours of both types of nuts and creates a dessert-like taste. You should also try soy milk with either of these new drinks as it results in a richer flavour and highlights the pistachios even more.   Christmas is almost upon us so why not celebrate with one of Starbucks' special seasonal selections?

The second round of Starbucks Japan's Christmas drinks will arrive in the form of the new White Chocolate Snow Frappuccino® and White Chocolate Snow.   These two wintertime beverages are inspired by snow falling on Christmas Day to warm the hearts of people this holiday season. A line-up of limited edition sparkly merchandise as well as desserts and food will also be sold.

White Chocolate Snow: Short ¥440/Tall ¥480/Grande ¥520/Venti® ¥560 (Pre-Tax)

White Chocolate Snow Frappuccino®: Tall ¥580 (Tall Size Only / Pre-Tax)

At the core of many people's heart during this time is the image of a White Christmas. Starbucks' two new snowy beverages aims to light that seasonal vibe in people and evoke those Christmas memories.   The drinks are topped with white chocolate sauce, marshmallows and whipped cream to create piled-up snow, and the silver dragees are coated with shiny silver leaf to look like sparkly snowflakes. Both beverages are like White Christmas in a cup, combining white chocolate and milk to create a rich, comforting flavour.  

Strawberry Gradation Cake: ¥460 (Pre-Tax)

In the run up to Christmas, the temperature gets gradually colder, one step at a time. The Strawberry Gradation Cake is the perfect coffee time accompaniment, layered with different sections of strawberry to warm your heart.

Chicken & Tomato Soy Cream Bread Gratin: ¥460 (Pre-Tax)

There's also the crunchy bread gratin cooked in a stove furnace and filled with a soy milk tomato cream, roast chicken, pumpkin, broccoli, red paprika and cheese.   Feel that comforting vibe that only Christmas can give you season with Starbucks' special new menu line-up.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Starbucks Japan setting up shop in Osaka, the coffee chain is holding a 10-day event titled Osaka 20th Thanks Week at 105 branches across Osaka Prefecture.   The celebration will see community activities taking place at each branch along with the serving of the new Osaka Meccha Matcha Latte and Osaka Meccha Matcha Frappuccino, two beverages crafted by the Osakan baristas of Starbucks for the Osakan locals. The first Starbucks branch to open in Western Japan was at HEP FIVE in Umeda, Osaka on November 28, 1998. The keyword for these beverages is omoroi, a word in Kansai dialect that means 'interesting' and 'amusing,' and one that is intended to warm the hearts of those who drink these new beverages. Matcha is used as the base flavour for both of these drinks. It should also tickle the fancy of those who know that Osaka was the birthplace of Sen no Rikyū, one of the most influential figures on the Japanese way of tea.   The three matcha beverages―the hot or iced latte and frappuccino―uses 1.5 times more matcha powder than Starbucks' regular matcha drinks. This explains the meccha in the title of the beverages which in Japanese means 'very' or in this case 'a lot.' Osaka Meccha Matcha Frappuccino®: Short ¥550/Tall ¥590/Grande ¥630/Venti® ¥670 (Pre-Tax) The base of the Osaka Meccha Matcha Frappuccino® is refreshing vanilla ice cream on top of which sits colourful matcha, creating a contrast of white and green. Squirted on top is a fluffy serving of whipped cream drizzled in caramel sauce, chocolate sauce and extra matcha powder. Not only is this beverage made to look like Osaka Castle's main keep, it's also made to reflect the vim and vigour of the Osakan spirit that always wants to try "this and that."   Osaka Meccha Matcha Latte (Hot/Iced): Short ¥440/Tall ¥480/Grande ¥520/Venti® ¥560 (Pre-Tax) The iced version of the Osaka Meccha Matcha Latte is based on the popular matcha tea latte while the hot version is the perfect accompaniment to warm you up during the cold season.   If you're in Osaka later this month then be sure to enjoy these meccha matcha drinks conceived from the minds of the baristas of Osaka!