Pandemic pushes Japan's wealthy to spend like there's no tomorrow
Since overseas travel has become virtually impossible, some people have been diverting more of their disposable income into luxury items such as new cars.
At Ochaba, food fads collide to create the ultimate trendy snack
Get your matcha, crepe or bubble tea fix simultaneously with Ochaba's green tea tapioca drinks or lineup of matcha-centric crepes.
Japanese media pundits deliver their verdicts on 2019's hit products
While consumers may take ownership of certain products for granted, there's something reaffirming about acquiring a product that's been designated a hit, and my experiences over the years tell me Japanese aren't especially different from other nationalities in this regard. The origin of Japan's own ...
Milksha: 'Fresh Milk' bubble tea gets some fresh new flavors
There's a plethora of subpar bubble tea shops out there. Fortunately, Milksha is not one of them.
How Japanese social media changed 2010s eating habits
Move over complicated bentos: Japanese recipes in the 2010s are all about making cozy, unfussy food that looks good online.
Bubble tea or bust: Japan's ongoing love affair with tapioca
Currently in the midst of its third tapioca boom, Japanese consumers' demand for bubble tea is still going strong.
Double bubble, tapioca tea and garbage trouble
Food and beverage fads come and go. On frequent occasions, "Gatten," NHK's health-oriented Wednesday evening program, used to present evidence that eating this food or drinking that beverage achieved seemingly miraculous results, including weight loss, lower blood pressure or relief from constipation. Soon afterward, ...
Gear up for summer with three new sweets from Seven-Eleven
Seven-Eleven is on a hot streak with its new watermelon ice bar, double cheesecake and tapioca milk tea jelly.
Social media backlash against bubble tea fails to dent enthusiasm
While the internet can play a crucial role in pushing trends in Japan, it can be just as effective in turning people against the crazes it helps to hype. What’s the latest fad to find itself caught in the crosshairs of social media? Bubble tea. ...
Tokyo's tapioca boom: Where to find bubble tea in the capital
Tokyo is in the middle of a "tapioca boom," and there are plenty of bubble tea options across the capital. Here's where to go for the best bubble tea concoctions — just in time for summer.
FamilyMart is making bubble tea more summer-worthy ... by freezing it
FamilyMart recently unveiled a tapioca tea latte kakigōri (shaved ice), transforming trendy bubble tea into a fully fledged dessert.
