This is the first article of a new series here on MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON we are calling Mogu Mogu Nippon (“Gobbling Japan”).
It’s no secret that we here at MMN love eating. At any time of the day someone in the office is eating or drinking something. We have a particular weakness for new products and limited edition seasonal items that are released here in Japan. From time to time, someone will buy something and share it amongst everyone!
In Mogu Mogu Nippon, we will showcase a selection of food, sweets and more that we want to recommend to you―our readers. For this first entry, we are heading to the convenience store to review the Häagen-Dazs Mini Cup Houjicha Latte.
Here in Japan, Häagen-Dazs regularly scoops out a variety of limited edition ice cream flavours, many of which are tea flavoured.
The one we recommend is their Houjicha Latte. This flavour was first released back in 2017 and has gone on to become hugely popular. Demand for this limited edition product to return has been huge (and I’m one of those people!). If you love tea, especially Japanese tea, then you’ll find this one irresistible.
Matcha and matcha flavoured products are enjoying a boom around the world today. Like matcha, there are a lot of houjicha items sold here in Japan.
The Houjicha Latte Häagen-Dazs ice cream is on sale right now for a limited time. I ate mine during snack time.
Upon opening the lid you are met with a spiralling marble-like pattern in your ice cream which are two different types of houjicha. The ice cream is rich and has a full-bodied milk flavour. This is coupled with the fragrance and delicious taste of the tea making for a seriously refreshing ice cream. The balance between the flavours is perfect, so you get richness but your taste buds are also left feeling refreshed.
The ice cream isn’t overly sweet and has just the right amount of bitterness from the houjicha. The sweetness of the milk fills your mouth and harmonises it all.
We recommend the Häagen-Dazs Mini Cup Houjicha Latte to those looking to eat a dessert made in Japan. You can pick up a cup at most convenience stores across the country, so be sure to give it a try if you’re here for summer, especially if you’ve never tried houjicha sweets or desserts before!
Information
Häagen-Dazs Mini Cup Houjicha Latte (Limited Edition)
Available: At most major convenience stores, supermarkets and department stores in Japan
Price: ¥272 (Before Tax)
Product Page: https://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/houjicha_latte/
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Häagen-Dazs Japan is releasing the matcha-flavoured crispy sandwich ice cream Green Tea Crème brûlée and a Japanese tea-flavoured latte ice cream in a mini cup called Hojicha latte. These two new ice cream flavours will be released on Tuesday 21st May countrywide at the same time for a limited period.
Green Tea Crème brûlée crispy sandwich ice cream (for a limited time only ) ¥272 (RRP before tax)
The matcha crème brûlée made from matcha custard and caramel is the perfect flavour combination. This is encased in two crispy wafers. The rich aroma of matcha and the high quality sweetness is complemented with the creamy custard of the crème brûlée and provides a rich flavour for you to enjoy. A generous amount of caramel powder is used to create a deep-flavoured crème brûlée caramel. After biting through the crispy, fragrant wafer you will reach the subtle bitter flavour of the caramel.Mini Cup Hojicha latte (for a limited time only ) ¥272 (RRP before tax)
Two types of hojicha tea latte swirl together with a maple finish. You can enjoy the real taste of tea leaves and their delicious aromatic flavour. This ice cream became very popular when it was sold in 2017. It was made using leaves from the first pick of the tea season. These leaves are less bitter and less acidic, so you can enjoy the elegance of the tea along with the luxurious flavour of the milk. Both of these combined create an exquisite flavour. The temperature of the water in which the tea is brewed and the time it is brewed for has been carefully managed to produce a clear, refreshing aftertaste whilst maintaining the highly aromatic hojicha fragrance.Indulge in these two exquisite Häagen-Dazs ice creams filled with carefully balanced flavours. Information
Häagen-Dazs Matcha Crème brûlée (for a limited time only)
Launch: Tues 21/05/2019
Available at: Supermarkets countrywide, convenience stores, department stores, etcHäagen-Dazs special edition website: https://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/green_tea_creme_brulee/
Häagen-Dazs Hojicha latte (for a limited time only)
Launch: Tues 21/05/2019
Available at: Supermarkets countrywide, convenience stores, department stores, etcHäagen-Dazs special edition website: https://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/houjicha_latte/
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It has been 35 years since Häagen-Dazs ice cream arrived in Japan in 1984. This year, Japan is also celebrating the arrival of a brand new era! That’s why Häagen-Dazs is celebrating with the release of a new course menu that you can enjoy with all five of your senses. The menu is currently available at the Häagen-Dazs MATCHA SALON which is open for a limited period only from Thursday 24th April to Sunday 5th May 2019. The salon is located at Hills Cafe/ Space in Roppongi Hills.
The supervisor for this salon is Daisuke Kaneko, who is also the owner and chef of the famous French restaurant L’AS. The main concept of the matcha salon is to enjoy Häagen-Dazs’ specially-made matcha in all kinds of ways. There is a six-piece course overflowing with entertaining features for you to enjoy. Green tea and lime non-alcoholic cocktail This welcome drink is made by combining carefully-made matcha with carbonated water. Rich matcha is added to refreshing lime so you can feel rejuvenated as you enter the world of matcha. Matcha jelly made from matcha leaves grown in the dark! The leaves used for the Häagen-Dazs green tea maintain their fresh colour and flavour from being grown in a covered area. The smooth and juicy matcha jelly and the sweet and sour fresh fruits bring about a delicious flavour. These flavours taste better together than one might imagine. All that’s left is to light the fire at the table and it’s complete! Matcha tiramisu made from three different strengths of matchaMatcha sponge cake cream is smashed up and topped with mascarpone mousse and matcha powder. There are three different matcha strengths of tiramisu so you can enjoy the changing flavours! Supreme bliss Häagen-Dazs green tea-5°C is the best temperature to enjoy Häagen-Dazs ice cream. This ice cream just melts gently in your mouth with a wonderful new texture. Allow yourself to drift away with the scent of matcha surrounding you as the matcha flavour on your tongue spreads in your mouth! You can even enjoy the sound of Häagen-Dazs ice cream! Immerse all of your senses in this range of Häagen-Dazs matcha ice cream treats with this special course! Information
Häagen-Dazs MATCHA SALON（ハーゲンダッツ 抹茶サロン）
Open: Weds 24th April ー Sunday 5th May 2019
Location: Hills Cafe/Space (2nd floor, Roppongi Hills Hillside, 6 Chome-10-1 Roppongi, Minato City)
Opening hours: 11:00 ー 22:30 ※Limited seating time: 1-hour time slots.
Price: ¥2,900 (price after tax)
Reservations: https://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/matcha_salon/
※ Some days may be busier than others, leading to the salon becoming fully booked. It is possible to get seats without reservations on the day. There will be a maximum of 14 seats per time slot available each day for customers without reservations. Please check the reservation website for more information on seating without reservations.
Häagen-Dazs official website: https://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/
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Convenience stores are just one of the many places you can buy Häagen-Dazs Decorations limited edition ice cream flavours Almond Caramel Cookie and Matcha cheesecake. The Häagen-Dazs Decorations series is a smooth, rich-flavoured ice cream with delicious toppings to compliment the ice cream. Once you open the lid, you will see the ice cream sprinkled with cookie pieces. Mix this with the deep-flavoured ice cream and allow yourself to indulge in a new texture. To understand just how delicious this new ice cream is, you’re just going to have to try it for yourself. ...so I dug straight into both ice creams. After allowing it to melt slightly, I mixed the cookie pieces with the ice cream.
The almond caramel cookie ice cream is topped with sliced almond, butter cookie pieces and a drizzling of caramel sauce. The ice cream is caramel butterscotch flavoured. The rich ice cream flavour combined with the crispy almond flakes and crunchy cookie pieces are balanced in perfect harmony. I then moved onto the matcha cheesecake! The ice cream is topped with matcha and cheese cookie pieces. The flavour of the cheese cookies with the matcha was a matcha match made in heaven. It was a bit like eating a cheese tart! The ice cream was made using matcha ice cream and cheese ice cream so you can fully enjoy both flavours in one! A perfect level of bitter matcha and creamy cheese ー each mouthful was like tasting it for the first time! These two ice creams are only available for a limited time! If you like cookies or almond flakes in your ice cream, this is definitely the ice cream for you! It’s still a bit chilly these days, but how about taking a moment in your day to enjoy this sweeeeet sweeet ice cream in a warm room? Information
Häagen-Dazs Decorations (ハーゲンダッツ デコレーションズ)
Almond Caramel Cookie (アーモンドキャラメルクッキー)
Matcha cheesecake (抹茶チーズクッキー)
Price：¥324
Purchasable from: Supermarkets, convenience stores, department stores etc nationwide.
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FamilyMart stores nationwide have started a campaign in collaboration with the free-to-play mobile game Pokemon Cafe ReMix! From June 21 until July 18, visitors will be able to pick up some special treats and exclusive merchandise.
Pikachu Frappes
A new addition to the Frappe series, customers will be able to enjoy Pikachu’s Pineapple Frappe starting June 21, featuring Pikachu in a cute cafe uniform. Made with golden pineapple pulp, the drink is perfect for summer, offering a refreshing sweet and sour taste. There are three cup designs available–one with Pikachu in red, one in blue, and another in green. Original Merchandise Campaign
Part I: June 21, 10:00~ / Original PP Coaster (4 varieties)Part 2: July 5, 10:00~ / Cafe Menu Design Original Memo Pad (4 varieties) *Sample ImagesA goods campaign is also underway. Customers purchasing three qualifying products will receive exclusive merchandise–while supplies last, of course! The event will run from June 21 at 10:00 through July 18. Stamp Campaign
Left: 5 stamps, Original Lunch Bag / Right: 10 stamps, Original Plates (Set of 3)
Collecting stamps on the FamilyMart app can also net fans some special prizes! At the same time, Pokemon fans can use the app to win tickets to Pokemon GO Fest 2022 Sapporo. © 2022 Pokémon. © 1995-2022 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc. Developed by Genius Sonority Inc. ポケットモンスター・ポケモン・Pokémonは任天堂・クリーチャーズ・ゲームフリークの 登録商標です。Nintendo Switchのロゴ・Nintendo Switchは任天堂の商標です。 ©2022 Niantic, Inc. ©2022 Pokémon. ©1995-2022 Nintendo/Creatures Inc. /GAME FREAK inc. ポケモン・Pokémonは任天堂・クリーチャーズ・ゲームフリークの登録商標です。Information
Pokemon Cafe ReMix ~ Puzzle Campaign
https://www.family.co.jp/campaign/spot/2206_poke-maze_cp.html
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To celebrate the final season of Attack on Titan, NewDays, a convenience store chain in Japan, has started a special campaign until January 10, 2022. Plenty of collaborate snacks will be available for the next few weeks.
Collaboration Food
Special Attack on Titan Packaging
Special Attack on Titan Packaging, "Exterminate Every Last Grain!"
Luxury Seafood Onigiri (Special Packaging)
Luxury Seafood Onigiri
Nine Titan Bento
Collaboration Merch
Acrylic Keychain
Acrylic Keychain
Pin
Pin
Acrylic Stand
Bonus (Round 1)
Bonus (Round 2)
Present Campaign
A Prize: Signed Poster (3 Winners)
B Prize: NewDays Original Illustration Blanket (50 Winners)
Super-sized luxury onigiri are now available as part of the collaboration, along with special bread and bento featuring images of popular Attack on Titan characters. Seven types of original merchandise will be available at participating NewDays locations, and those spending over ¥600 including one or more Suntory beverages will be entered to win a poster signed by the cast. Don't miss it!Information
NewsDays × Attack on Titan Present Campaign
December 21, 2021 – January 10, 2022
Where: Participating NewDays Locations Nationwide
Details: https://retail.jr-cross.co.jp/newdays/special/shingeki2021
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Bandai’s character-inspired Japanese confectionery series Tabemas released a new collection of traditional Japanese wagashi confections and tarts inspired by the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime series at Lawson convenience stores across Japan on June 15.
Tabemas Demon Slayer
‘Tabemas’ is an abbreviation of the Japanese words taberareru masukotto, meaning ‘mascots that you can eat.’ It is a Japanese confectionery series that combines well-known characters and Japanese sweets made from ingredients like red bean paste, sugar and rice flour. Their line-up of three confections are based on Tanjiro, Nezuko, and Zenitsu from the series, each of which captures their charm points in terms of colour and design. Tanjiro is chocolate flavoured, Nezuko is strawberry, and Zenitsu is custard.Tabemas Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba 2021 | ¥285 Each (Tax Included)
Demon Slayer Tarts
Tabemas has also baked up some no-baked cheesecake tarts featuring designs of Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, Inosuke, Tomioka, Kyojuro, and Shinobu.Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Tarts | ¥249 Each (Tax Included)
©︎ 吾峠呼世晴／集英社・アニプレックス・ufotableInformation
Tabemas Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba 2021
Released: June 15, 2021
Available: At the chilled sweets section of Lawson convenience stores in Japan
*Natural Lawson and Lawson Store 100 stores not participating
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Sanrio teamed up with the convenience store chain FamilyMart to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their popular character Pompompurin with a special soufflé and macarons that hit shelves up and down Japan on June 8.
Pompompurin Soufflé Pudding | ¥276 (Before Tax)
Pompompurrin & Cinnamoroll Macarons | ¥350 (Before Tax)
Pom's Kitchen Campaign
The Japanese pudding-style soufflé is made with smooth and velvety custard and caramel. It's sold in a cup in three different original designs. Also available as part of the celebration is a set of macarons made to look like Pompompurin as well as Cinnamoroll, another one of Sanrio's most popular characters. They are wearing cute king and queen crowns respectively. A campaign is also being held where you can win some special Pompompurin merchandise by posting a photo of a rice dish inspired by Pompompurin on social media. More details can be found on the campaign website below.Information
Pompompurin Soufflé Pudding
Released: June 8, 2021
Where: FamilyMart (Japan)
Campaign Details: https://www.pompompurin25th.jp/
FamilyMart Official Website: https://www.family.co.jp/
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MINISTOP Japan released three new desserts in collaboration with Morinaga on Tuesday: the Morinaga Milk Caramel Baumkuchen, Morinaga Milk Caramel Pound Cake, and Morinaga Milk Caramel Roll Cake.
Morinaga Milk Caramel Baumkuchen
Morinaga Milk Caramel Pound Cake
Morinaga Milk Caramel Roll Cake
Morinaga's "Milk Caramel" is a long-selling product that has been sold for over 100 years. The triple dessert release coincides with Milk Caramel Day, a day by Morinaga that falls on June 10 to commemorate the flavour. The tasty caramel delights make as the perfect accompaniment during coffee breaks, when working, when studying, or just as a little treat. The desserts are now available at all MINISTOP convenience stores in Japan.Information
MINISTOP x Morinaga Milk Caramel
Released: June 8, 2021Available: MINISTOP Japan
Official Website: https://www.ministop.co.jp/
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In promotion of the latest entry to the Detective Conan anime film series, Detective Conan: The Scarlet Bullet, which was released on March 18, Bandai released two traditional Japanese wagashi sweets from its Tabemas confection series at 7-Eleven convenience stores in Japan on April 23.
Tabemas Detective Conan 2021
Conan Edogawa
Shuichi Akai
‘Tabemas’ is an abbreviation of the Japanese words taberareru masukotto, meaning ‘mascots that you can eat.’ It is a Japanese confectionery series that combines well-known characters and Japanese sweets made from ingredients like red bean paste, sugar and rice flour. The sweets are also made with a dough called “nerikiri” which is used in making traditional Japanese wagashi sweets. The sweets feature titular character Conan Edogawa and FBI agent Shuichi Akai from the new film, recreating their looks in adorable detail and making the custard and chocolate flavoured respectively. The colours of the confections are naturally-derived from the ingredients used, meaning no artificial colourings are used. (C)青山剛昌／小学館・読売テレビ・TMS 1996Information
Tabemas Detective Conan 2021
Released: April 23, 2021
Price: ¥278 Each (Tax Included)
Available: The chilled desserts corners of 7-Eleven convenience stores in Japan
Tabemas: https://www.bandai.co.jp/candy/tabemas/
*Available while supplies last
*Stock date may differ from branch to branch
*Select stores not participating