Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Sep 15, 2018
Sometimes more is more: Seven-Eleven's layered parfait delivers the fall flavors
by Patrick ST. Michel
Seven-Eleven's fall parfait combines chestnut, roasted green tea and more into one cup.
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Sep 1, 2018
A buzz too strong? Sangaria's Super Strong Lemon and Sapporo's Chuhai 99.99
by Patrick ST. Michel
Following the success of Suntory's venerable Strong Zero range, more and more companies are rolling out concoctions that see how far they can push the canned booze content.
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Aug 18, 2018
'Koguma no Cake-ya San' hits the mainstream with cute Lawson treats
by Patrick ST. Michel
The story of a young bear operating a sweets store has earned its own real-world merchandise, pop-up cafe and limited-edition desserts.
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Aug 11, 2018
Cebada: Kirin's new 'coffee-like' beverage tastes like dirt
by Patrick ST. Michel
Kirin's attempt to tap into demand for decaf coffee misses the mark.
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Jul 28, 2018
Calbee's edamame and cheese-flavored chips: Hardly unique, but good with a drink
by Patrick ST. Michel
On their own, edamame already make for a solid snack, especially when paired with a glass of beer. But snack manufacturer Calbee sees opportunities to experiment everywhere. Its latest edamame and cheese-flavored chips attempt to elevate the humble soybean to another level; a new combination ...
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Jul 14, 2018
Don't scoff at vanilla: Seven-Eleven's Waffle Cone Milk Vanilla is simply delicious
by Patrick ST. Michel
Seven-Eleven's Waffle Cone Milk Vanilla ice cream might not be "offbeat," but sometimes classic flavors are all you need to survive the summer.
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Jun 30, 2018
Embrace traditional Japanese flavors with Seven-Eleven's brown sugar kuzukiri
by Patrick ST. Michel
Seven-Eleven's mix-it-yourself brown sugar kuzukiri is a cool, refreshing summer treat.
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Jun 23, 2018
Lawson's mango and milk soft cream: even better for the waffle cone
by Patrick ST. Michel
Lawson's seasonal soft cream brings plenty of sweetness and mango flavor.
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Jun 9, 2018
Lemondo: Coca-Cola's first foray into the world of alcopops
by Patrick ST. Michel
Is it worth shipping Coca-Cola's new alcoholic drink 1,000 kilometers from Kyushu? Undoubtedly yes.
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH May 26, 2018
Stay clear away from Asahi's Clear Latte
by Patrick ST. Michel
Picture this: the milky, coffee flavor of a latte, transformed into what looks like a bottle of water. That's the driving idea behind Asahi's Clear Latte.
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH May 12, 2018
Family Mart's frozen, Technicolor frappes: drink them for the gram
by Patrick ST. Michel
Instagram-friendly food has made it to the final frontier — convenience stores. Plenty of konbini offerings in the last couple of years have looked good enough to share on social media, but Family Mart appears to be the first to sell something explicitly designed ...
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH May 5, 2018
Coca-Cola Frozen Lemon: What's Coke without the fizz?
by Patrick ST. Michel
It's hot out. Accordingly, everyone is seeking out cooler treats to get them through a summer that hasn't even fully settled in yet. Coca-Cola Japan is betting that people need a fix of cool in 2018, and have introduced a new product that takes ...