Kirin Afternoon Tea opens new concept shop in Daikanyama

Kirin Beverage, which sells the black tea beverage "Kirin Gogo no Kocha," opened a new concept shop in Tokyo's Daikanyama on October 7th. Called "Milk. Black. Lemon. By GOGO NO KOCHA," it invites visitors to enjoy the appeal of black tea. Its theme is "high-quality relaxation." A preview event was held on the 5th, and actress Aoi Miyazaki, who appears in the TV commercials, made a special appearance.

The company's flagship brand "Gogo no Kocha" has surpassed 30 years since its launch. It pioneered the industry as Japan's first bottled tea in PET bottles.

At the opening, Naoya Takaku, the company's Marketing Director, stated: "We were the first black tea beverage to surpass 50 million cases annually. The reality is that more and more people are drinking black tea. At the shop, under the concept 'Enjoy quality rest with black tea,' we offer not only tea but also complementary foods, proposing a new way to enjoy black tea."

The menu offers choices tailored to mood: "Relax," "Happy," and "Refresh." The tea selection features the same three varieties used in the PET bottle products (Dimbula, Candy, Nuwara Eliya), each available straight, with lemon, or with milk, and served either iced or hot to suit preferences.

Additionally, the café offers visually appealing drinks like a healthy avocado and kiwi tea smoothie, a surprise tea paired with cream cheese, chocolate and raspberry tea, and sparkling lemon tea. The food menu features items rich in cheese—a flavor known to pair well with tea—such as melted cheese toast, moist rare cheesecake, and cheese quiche.

Miyazaki-san, who visited the cafe early, looked around the interior decorated in red, white, and yellow—inspired by Afternoon Tea's straight tea, milk tea, and lemon tea—and smiled, saying, "It's sophisticated yet cute." When the menu appeared, she exclaimed, "It looks delicious!"

The cafe walls feature tea-themed decor, while coasters and takeout cups depict various relaxing scenes, showcasing thoughtful whimsy throughout. Miyazaki remarked, "It's a wonderful place to discover new teas. It's the kind of cafe you'll want to visit again and again, so I hope many people come."

Official website:
http://www.kirin.co.jp/products/softdrink/gogo/mblshop/